WORCESTERSHIRE Cricket Club staff and St John Ambulance volunteers were among those given a boost by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester yesterday.

The Duke, who is the Queen's cousin, spent nearly an hour at New Road, Worcester,today as part of a tour of flood-hit parts of the county which included Tenbury Wells and the Severn Valley Railway.

He was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire Michael Brinton and greeted at the county cricket club by Worcester Mayor Councillor Stephen Inman.

The Duke chatted to officials who included the chairman Martyn Price before viewing a montage of flooding information.

Head groundsman Tim Packwood then took him on a tour of the pitch where a marker had been placed showing the height of the floodwatere in July.

The Duke was also presented with a DVD by Andy Thomas, who is responsible for working out the flood levels for the county ground.

After viewing the club's cricketing memorabilia, the Duke, who is the Grand Prior of St John Ambulance, met volunteers who helped the emergency services during the summer's flooding.

The Duke praised the group and said: "It's very interesting to hear how they all mucked in but if you are a St John volunteer when the call comes you are going to do something."

St John Ambulance member Lorraine Odell said volunteers had appreciated the Duke's recognition of their work. It's very nice he came especially because he is the Grand Prior."

The Mayor said: "I think it's wonderful that the Duke of Gloucester should take an interest in what happens in Worcester and Worcestershire.

"Of course the cricket ground sums up the problems the floods caused for the city, but the pitch is looking superb and I hope Worcestershire has a really excellent season in 2008. They deserve to do really well."