STAFF at the Exmoor Pony Centre finally got to meet Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, on Tuesday when she fulfilled a long-standing promise to call in and see the work of the Moorland Mousie Trust at first hand.

The Duchess, who is patron of the trust, had to cancel two scheduled visits to the centre due to flooding and ill-health.

But it was third time lucky this week when she dropped in to watch a demonstration of colt training techniques.

Unfortunately, three-year-old colt Barney decided the Duchess' visit was the perfect time to answer a call of nature, much to the amusement of the royal visitor!

The Duchess took time to sign a copy of the children's book by Lionel Edwards from which the trust takes its name and said she had read the stories herself as a child.

She was given a guided tour of the centre by trust founder Val Sherwin and met pupils from All Saints First School in Dulverton.

She told well-wishers: "I'm really pleased to be able to come back. This is the third time lucky and I have brought the sun with me - no floods this time."

The trust was set up to conserve and promote the rare Exmoor pony breed and the centre near Ashwick is the trust's focal point, providing a home for unwanted wild foals and offering visitors the chance to learn more about the ponies.

The Duchess was shown the centre's new paddock and was able to feed ponies Burt and Tom who are part of the Moorland Mousie Trust's adopt a pony scheme.

She is pictured with Mrs Sherwin, volunteers Anne Ansell and Amanda Sareen and Exmoor pony Yorick.

Photo: Mike Sherwin