PRINCE Andrew hailed the ability of the new £53m Hartlepool College of Further Education to equip students with skills for the workplace.

The Duke of York has now left town after officially opening the flagship state-of-the art building, in Stockton Street.Hundreds of students, who are enjoying their half-term holiday, descended on the college to take part in the Royal Visit. The young people flanked the balconies on three floors of the impressive building as the Duke made his way around, meeting students, staff, governors and business people who employ apprentices at the college. The Prince arrived in town by helicopter and landed in the Hartlepool Marina area, before being whisked to the college. During his visit, he spent time talking to students about their career ambitions and aspirations and toured the college's aircraft hangar - where the former Royal Navy pilot stepped on board a vintage Jet Provost aircraft. Lucky college students and staff and local employers told of their delight at meeting the Royal visitor.

Daniel Robinson is chairman of Gus Robinson Developments, which has a long history of taking on apprentices from the college. Mr Robinson, a self-confessed Royalist, who was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, said: "He was very nice and very down-to-earth.

"He was very well-informed and asked how we bring apprentices in and not only how we put them through apprenticeships, but how we see them through their careers."

Hartlepool air cadet Beth Calvert described the Royal visit as a "day I will never forget". The 17-year-old, who is studying an aerospace course at the college and eventually wants to join the RAF and become an air traffic controller, was given the honour of accompanying the Duke on his tour. The former High Tunstall College of Science student, who lives in the West Park area with parents Dawn and Richard and brothers Ewan, four, and 11-year-old Brad, said: "It was really exciting, he asked me what I was studying at the college and what my future ambitions were."

Gareth Tupman, 32, a student and governor at the college, presented the Duke with a Joe Cornish picture of Hartlepool.He admitted: "He shook my hand and I had been trying to keep my palms dry. It was quite an honour to meet him."

David Boagey, a 17-year-old engineering student from Elwick, spoke to the Prince. He said: "He asked how we got interested in engineering and I said I followed it through my family. He was a nice man, very approachable."

Before unveiling a commemorative plaque, the Duke said: "I have been really impressed not only with the conversations I have had with some of the young students here, but also their commitment to their education and gaining qualifications for employment."

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