THE Duke of York embarked on a whistle-stop tour of North Yorkshire, including a ride on the newly-restored Wensleydale Railway.

Prince Andrew's day began in Thirsk, where he toured the Multidrive factory, which makes specialist vehicles for the military and for export.

His next engagement was in Northallerton where he opened the newly-refurbished magistrates court on the town's Racecourse Lane.

Prince Andrew's schedule then took him to Leeming Bar, where he met children from Aiskew and Leeming Bar Primary School who have been studying the Wensleydale Railway. He boarded a train himself, riding along the line to the newly-restored station at Leyburn, where he unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit.