Prince Andrew paid a flying visit to Sittingbourne today.

The Duke of York arrived by helicopter for a tour of the Swale Skills Centre on the Eurolink Business Park.

The engineering training hub was among a number of Kent businesses to receive the royal visitor during a whistle-stop trip to the county.

During his visit to the centre in Bonham Drive, the prince presented a speech before being given a guide of its workshops.

He also met some of its 200 engineering students and unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit.

The royal appointment was at the invitation of the High Sheriff of Kent and coincided with National Apprentice Week.

Nik Wilson is a programme leader at the centre which caters for youngsters aged 14 upwards.

He said: “The prince was here not only to talk about engineering, but impress to everyone how vitally important it is we train the engineers of the future.”

Before the plaque’s unveiling, the prince said the UK needed to train one million engineers “in the next five to 10 years”.

The High Sheriff of Kent, Michael Bax, Sittingbourne MP Gordon Henderson and Mayor of Swale Cllr Pat Sandle were among local dignitaries to greet the prince on his arrival.

The visit lasted an hour before he was whisked-off for an appointment at the Kent Showground in Detling.

The Swale Skills Centre, which is sponsored by Kent County Council, was opened in September 2008 and is run by Sittingbourne Community College.

Eight apprentices sponsored by DONG Energy are among its current intake.

The three-year course will see them trained in the installation, maintenance and repair of wind turbines to offset the shortage of these particular skills in the UK.