William has kickabout in Lancashire

Prince William has demonstrated his footballing skills to schoolchildren on his first royal visit to Lancashire.

William saw first-hand the Football Association's Skills Programme in action as 50 pupils aged five to 11 displayed the skills gained in training sessions at St Aidan's Primary School in Blackburn.

Second in line to the throne, William became president of the Football Association two years ago. His football skills were rated as "all right" by children he practised alongside.

Showing off his football dribbling technique alongside Nathan Brown, the 11-year-old said: "Not everyone gets to have a kickabout with him. It's a lifetime opportunity, it's not every day someone gets to meet a prince."

Hayley Probert, also 11, said: "It was really exciting to meet the future King. He started talking to me about football and what teams we support. He supports Aston Villa."

St Aidan's is involved in the FA Tesco Skills Programme, which aims to give one million children in England top-quality skills coaching by 2010.

William met FA coaches delivering warm-up sessions and games in the school playground and was accompanied by the FA Director of Football Development, Sir Trevor Brooking.

Sir Trevor said: "We want to try and get the youngsters to participate and see that it's not too judgmental early on. It's about having a bit of fun with your friends."

He praised William's communication skills, saying: "William is very strong at that."

William was greeted with applause by an enthusiastic crowd, which included a local resident who watched him arrive from a deckchair outside his terraced house.

The Prince also joked with photographers about his football ability and obliged a member of the crowd's plea to "shake my grandma's hand" before departing.

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