A COOKERY school in Notts says it's "incredibly honoured" to be given the royal seal of approval following a visit from the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

Yesterday the future king and his wife flew by helicopter into the grounds of the Welbeck Estate near Warsop.

The couple were shown around the School of Artisan Food, which operates from one of the newly-renovated buildings surrounding Welbeck Abbey.

The school specialises in traditional butchery, bakery and dairy techniques and was the brain-child of directors Alison Parente and Gareth Kennedy.

Following a whistle-stop tour of the butchery section – and after Prince Charles and Camilla had been taught how to cook a pig's brain and chop off a trotter – they inspected ovens and the dairy room.

Italian butchery student Simona Giaquinto, 37, said she hoped the royal visit would bolster the school's reputation.

"It's the right kind of press to get, and the prince himself seemed so nice and down to earth," she said.

Speaking at the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the visit, Prince Charles said: "I have been so impressed by the remarkable activities going on here and the wonderfully imaginative ways the buildings have been sensitively converted and put to good uses.

"I was thrilled to learn about Alison Parente's imaginative and long overdue initiative.

"People have too easily lost all understanding of what real craftsmanship is all about.

"Food is very much part of the art of life and the art of living.

"What is going on here at the school is of enormous importance.

"I hope I live long-enough to see some of the students in positions which will make a big difference to the outside world."

Co-founder of the school Gareth Kennedy said: "We are immensely proud to have hosted a royal visit, and it was incredible honour to show the prince and the duchess around our school."

The school is a registered charity and accepts donations to keep it running.

Thomas Pettengell, chairman of Notts County Council, said: "Knowing the prince as I do, the school may be more than likely to receive a little donation from the Prince's Trust."