Prince Harry comforts storm victims, gets his hands dirty at nature reserve and enjoys kickabout in busy day up north
PRINCE Harry had a busy day up north meeting storm victims, footie fans and getting stuck in to bush craft activities.
The 33-year-old returned to a village destroyed by floods in 2015's Storm Desmond and met residents who were forced to abandon their homes.
He opened the refurbished village hall in St Michael's on Wyre and managed to catch up with a woman who missed his visit last time, after being presented with a stick of Blackpool rock.
Julie Bostock, who lives next to the village hall, wrote to Harry after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour while spending eight months in temporary accommodation waiting for her home to be repaired.
She said: "I wrote to him about the work he does with mental health and said what a shame I hadn't been able to meet him last time."
Harry - who is dating American actress Meghan Markle - met Mrs Bostock, who has fully recovered after surgery to remove the tumour, with her husband Ralph and son Jack Prince and was shown photos of the damage which was done to the house.
He also chatted to 99-year-old Winnie Hodson, who he had met when he visited last year.
Her daughter Winnie, 77, said: "He remembered her from last time. He was asking how we were and about the floods."
Earlier in the day the Prince visited staff at Veterans UK earlier and thanked them for their "amazing work" as he marked the 25th anniversary of its helpline service, based in Blackpool.
The 24-hour helpline provides welfare support for ex-service personnel and their families, working in partnership with charities and support networks, and receives hundreds of calls daily.
He met widow Jemma Neilson, 29, of Preston, whose husband, Darren, 31, was killed four months ago in a tank explosion during a training exercise at Castlemartin, west Wales.
Mrs Neilson and daughter Millie, eight, moved out of military accommodation following the loss of her husband who had been her childhood sweetheart since the age of 14.
She said: "The service has been absolutely invaluable. I don't know where I would be without it."
Retired RAF squadron leader Stephen Flaherty, 66, who receives a war disablement pension, said the Prince was "a delight".
Part three of his busy schedule saw him going on to Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston to see youngsters taking part in conservation activities.
The prince joined people aged 13 and 24 in the woods as he watched them create a dead hedge from branches to provide shelter for small animals.
He told those taking part "a concrete jungle is not good for anyone" and said the group was lucky to do things like this instead of being indoors watching TV.
He watched another group put on blindfolds to use their other senses to identify types of tree before settling down for a campfire chat over toasted marshmallows.
His final visit saw the prince meeting football and wheelchair basketball players at the University of Central Lancashire sports arena in Preston.
He spent some time watching training sessions and spoke to players - including a club member who took part in the Invictus games.
Charlotte Chalder, 16, said she spoke to the prince about the success of the women's team.
She said: "He pouted at me because I said we hadn't lost a game! He was so nice."
Helen Gregson, 35, who plays for the Lancashire Bombers Wheelchair Basketball Club said she was "gobsmacked" when Harry gave her a hug after watching some of their training session. She said: "I was overwhelmed."
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