Princess Royal visits region

The Princess Royal officially opened the new Cumbria Fire and Rescue Services headquarters, as part of her visit to the region on Monday (22 October).

Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque to mark the Royal visit at Penrith Community Fire Station.

Ian Cartwright, Deputy Chief Fire Officer from Cumbria, told us about the Royal visit:

The Princess Royal has become the first person to drive across the new Northside Bridge in Workington. The former bridge was destroyed in the floods of November 2009. Princess Anne has now opened the new £11 million pound bridge linking the centre of Workington with the Northside area of the town.

She met the widow of PC Bill Barker, the policeman killed when the old bridge collapsed as well as families affected by the floods. Prayers were said during the ceremony to bless the bridge, including one from the Archbishop of York.

The Princess Royal will open the new Northside Bridge in Workington later today. The old bridge was destroyed in the floods of 2009. PC Bill Barker died when part of the structure collapsed.

Princess Anne will also officially open the new community fire station in Penrith.