THE Earl of Wessex will be welcomed to Droitwich by excited youngsters when he visits the town tomorrow.

Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son, will first drop in for lunch at Droitwich Rugby Club at 12.45pm.

According to the club's vice chairman Paul Edwards, the Earl will meet the club's chairman and director of rugby as well as grounds staff before being treated to lunch at the clubhouse.

During lunch, he will be invited to watch youngsters from the Hanbury Road Club's minis and juniors section training outside.

At about 1.45pm the Earl will tour the High Street, setting off from the Community Contact Centre, to see the aftermath of flooding in the area and meet some of the flood-hit residents and traders as well as the police officers and firefighters involved in the rescue efforts.

The Earl will also be introduced to people from the Rotary club and Lions club who helped fund recovery efforts and members of the town and Wychavon district councils.

He will make his way to St Andrew's Church and parish centre where he will meet schoolchildren who designed artwork for flooded shops and will leave at about 3pm.

Droitwich Mayor Richard Morris said: "We hope the visit will give a boost and lift the spirits of residents and traders who are still recovering from the devastating floods."

The High Street will remain open throughout and people have been told they are welcome to join the visit.

He will be making the visit less than six weeks after his wife, Sophie, gave birth to their son, James Alexander Philip Theo, who will be known as Viscount Severn. The couple also have a daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.