THE region played host to a royal guest yesterday when HRH The Duke of Gloucester opened two developments.

The first port of call for the Duke was the historic Heugh Gun Battery, on Hartlepool’s Headland, which has been restored in recent years by a group of local volunteers.

John Southcott, chairman of the Heugh Gun Battery Trust, took the Duke on a 45- minute tour, which included an inspection of the Quarter Guard of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery and the firing of a First World War gun.

The Duke then unveiled a plaque at the battery, which earned a major place in history when its guns returned fire during the infamous bombardment of Hartlepool by the Imperial Navy in December 1914.

He then headed off to Hartfields in the town, where he unveiled an extra care retirement village consisting of 242 units of accommodation at Middle Warren, where residents can live independently.

The village was built by a partnership between the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, Hartlepool Borough Council, Hartlepool Primary Care Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust.

John Kennedy, director of care services at the Rowntree trust, said: “The concept enables older people to live in their own homes, in a socially stimulating environment, with support available if they need it.”

Later in the day, the Duke officially opened a £2.4m sheltered housing complex at Hurworth, Darlington.

The old flats at Linden Court were demolished by Darlington Borough Council last year, as they no longer met the needs of the residents.

Residents were involved in the design of the new building, the council’s first complete rebuild project of its kind in 20 years.

It includes 20 purpose-built spacious and accessible flats, as well as communal facilities that are available to the community.

It has a function room, with coffee bar.

A double guest room with en-suite facilities is available for family and friends to stay.

The Duke was welcomed by the mayor of Darlington, Councillor Ian Haszeldine, and met several residents and staff. Linden Court’s oldest resident, Mary Swaby, aged 90, presented him with a glass model of Locomotion One.

The Duke said: “I get asked to do this sort of thing very frequently and it seems to me that the standards keep on rising.

Providing the right buildings for the right people at the right time is a very worthwhile endeavour.”