PRINCE Charles received a warm welcome when he arrived in Clapham on Tuesday.

He heard about residents' efforts to make the village more appealing in the aftermath of the foot and mouth crisis and then launched a £1 million Donate to the Dales Appeal.

The appeal is being co-ordinated by the locally-based Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, of which the Prince is a patron, and will fund projects to support the well-being of the area.

Accompanied by trust officials, he visited various points of interest in the village, chatting to residents as he walked along.

Vice chairman of Clapham Parish Council Eileen Plumridge and local couple Richard and Justina Sexton presented him with two sheepskin rugs as a wedding present on behalf of the village.

Trust director David Sharrod said: "We are extremely grateful to The Prince of Wales for taking the time to come to Clapham and for the enormous boost his visit has given to the appeal."

He then moved on to Settle before donning workmen's overalls to take a trip on the famous Settle to Carlisle railway line.

The royal train was pulled by a steam locomotive, the Duchess of Sutherland - only the second time in more than 40 years that it has been pulled by a steam engine.

As he walked through the station gates he was greeted by children from Austwick Primary School and district and county council dignitaries.

Friends Emily Askew, six, Lottie Monks, six, and Katie Askew, seven, waited for an hour-and-a-half to catch a glimpse of the Prince and were delighted when he shook their hands and complemented them on their "nice coats".

Prince Charles was invited to visit the line by Settle woman Ruth Evans, who is the guided walks co-ordinator for the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line.

She wrote to the Prince's office at Clarence House last year when the Friends were celebrating their 30th anniversary.

At the time he could not attend, but Mrs Evans was astonished when she received a letter in January to say he was available to visit in March.