Prince Harry returns to village flooded by 2015 storm
Prince Harry has returned to a village which was devastated by floods in Storm Desmond to see how the recovery effort progressed.
He first visited St Michael's on Wyre in February last year after the floods in December 2015 damaged 1,700 businesses and homes.
Today, he reopened the refurbished village hall and met residents who were forced to move out of their homes following the storm.
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:
Harry 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 spoke to their neighbours Graham and Lynne Mortimore who were unable to return to their home for nine months after the flood.
The Prince spoke to 99-year-old Winnie Hodson, who first met him when he visited last year.
Her daughter Winnie, 77, said:
The Prince was greeted outside the village hall by children from St Michael's on Wyre Primary School, which had to be completely refurbished, and presented with a stick of Blackpool rock by one member of the crowd.
Headteacher Diane Carroll, 46, said the children were taught in portable cabins at Myerscough College, and on a nearby farm, for almost six months while work was carried out.
She said:
Margaret Thompson, 78, told Harry some of the children were taught on her farm while the school was repaired.
Harry 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.
As part of a day of engagements in Lancashire, the Prince will also meet young people at Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston, where he will learn about the MyPlace project which aims to empower young people by encouraging them to take action in environmental activity.
Harry will end the day by visiting the Sir Tom Finney Soccer Development Centre and the Lancashire Bombers Wheelchair Basketball Club at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) sports arena.