THE city's Wheelbase project is proving very popular with royalty.

In June the Duke of Kent opened its new premises in Newark Street, Sneinton.

And yesterday it was the turn of the Princess Royal who was opening a new tyre fitting bay.

The machinery has been paid for by the Wooden Spoon Society, of which the Princess is a patron.

"Wooden Spoon seems to find very good links locally," she said.

"Wheelbase has already established its credentials, but my goodness, so many people forget the importance of wheels.

"And no doubt communities suffer if they don't get the workforce.

"There is much more scope here than people realise."

Launched in 1991 in Denman Street East, Radford, Wheelbase's clients are aged between 14 and 25.

Some have a history of offending while others are judged to be at risk of social exclusion through domestic problems, non-school attendance and similar issues.

The project provides the youngsters with an alternative education system, teaching them subjects including English, maths and IT, but also gives them tuition in manufacturing.

Wooden Spoon is the charity of British and Irish Rugby, supporting mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children.

Wearing a warm-looking brown coat, with matching gloves, bag and boots, Princess Anne was introduced to members of Wooden Spoon and manager of Wheelbase Mick Clifford.

Two youngsters then showed her how the tyre fitting machinery worked.

Before she reached a display board about the project the Princess stopped to admire a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle that had been converted to a beach buggy by the youngsters.

She took time to talk to each of the young people present, including 24-year-old Matt Hickling from Basford, who now works for the Environment Agency after completing a course at Wheelbase, and Dale Hanks, 23, from Radford, who was the project's 1,000th client.

A new off-road racing car donated by Wooden Spoon was also unveiled for the Princess before she signed Wheelbase's visitors' book.

Speaking afterwards Mick Clifford, who was awarded an MBE in this year's New Year's Honours, said: "We do life changing stuff for the kids here and it's a great honour she has visited.

"For the youngsters it's an opportunity they are not normally offered and it's a great experience for them."

tanya.holden@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk