THE Duke of Edinburgh got to the bottom of the sewage treatment business yesterday - and didn't flinch.

Prince Philip, 80, was not afraid to get his hands dirty when he opened a new giant drying machine at Northumbrian Water's award-winning Regional Sludge Treatment Centre at Bran Sands, Teesport, near Redcar.

The centre processes human waste from throughout the Northumbrian Water area into pellets, which can be used in industry as a renewable energy source and as a fertiliser.

And when the Duke spotted the pellets, he immediately scooped a handful up to examine them, to the amazement of company executives.

Steve Coverdale, manager of the treatment centre, said: "He showed a lot of interest and he obviously knew a lot about the processes."

The Duke had earlier visited a sewage treatment works in Hendon, Sunderland, which processes raw waste.

The experience did not put him off his food, and he later headed for the Riverside Stadium for lunch with Middlesbrough FC chairman Steve Gibson.

On his trip to the North-East, he was also presented with the keys to a Daimler Chrysler people carrier to go on loan to the regional branch of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.