A treat for luxury car fan Charles; PRINCE PRAISES WORKERS AT GAYDON WHO PRODUCE 'THE BEST OF BRITISH'.

Byline: STEPHEN HALLMARK

PRINCE CHARLES visited the region's newest car factory to celebrate the best of British and to underline his seal of approval for Aston Martin.

The prince, a self-confessed lifelong fan of Aston Martin, checked out the company's latest model - the stunning DB9 - at the factory in Gaydon. During a two-hour tour, the prince chatted to workers and discussed every stage of the car's production, before test driving the model for himself.

After the tour, the prince unveiled a plaque which commemorated his visit, and applauded the workforce for consistently designing and building some of the world's finest cars.

He said: "It's a real treat to visit somewhere where the best of British is produced, manufactured and crafted.

"I've been a huge fan of Aston Martin's cars for 34-years, and I've always believed that it is a real work of art which is put together in an incredibly skillful and dedicated way."

The prince, whose favourite car is an Aston Martin that was presented to him in 1970, told the chief executive officer Dr Ulrich Bez that he was also impressed with the company's dedication to training and employing apprentices.

Mark Dutton, from Tile Hill, Coventry, works on the car's interior and after he spoke to the prince he said: "He was fascinated by the work we do.

"He was probably trying to put in a personal order for himself, and was obviously excited about getting a first-hand look at what we do. His eyes lit up when he saw the first car."

Jim Pearson, from Bedworth, said: "He was very good at putting us at ease. I think he prefers to talk to us than the gaffers. He was really nice."

Lisa Kirk, 31, from Tile Hill, sews the car's seat covers.

She said: "He asked me about my work and about the stitching, and he sniffed the leather which you don't expect the prince to do - and it made me giggle. He was down to earth."

Apprentice Sam Dickie, 19, lives near the factory and was delighted about the visit.

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Transformation for art

THE PRINCE also visited a Warwickshire stately home to see how it had been transformed from decaying mansion into art gallery.

Charles landed by helicopter at the 18th century country house of Compton Verney, near Wellesbourne, yesterday afternoon to be shown round the exhibits by the gallery's founder Sir Peter Moores and staff.

He was given white gloves to handle a ritual wine vessel from 850BC in the gallery's Chinese section.

The prince said: "I am enormously pleased to have this chance to come back to Compton Verney after an interval of about 14 years.

"When I came at that time the house was in a terrible condition which I remember all too well and the poor old landscape had been abandoned.

"It would have been a tragedy to have lost a house of this nature."

CAPTION(S):

D18526_16 IN STITCHES: Prince Charles shares a joke with Lisa Kirk, of Tile Hill, Coventry, who sews the seats for Aston Martins; D18526_24 SUITS YOU SIR: Prince Charles checks out the DB9 at the Gaydon factory and (left) shakes hands with worker Mark Dutton, of Tile Hill, Coventry Pictures: MICHELLE SPERRY D18526_15; PLEASED: Prince Charles with Sir Peter Moores at Compton Verney