TWO REDBRIDGE charities were graced with a Royal visit yesterday when Prince Edward stopped off in the borough.

The Prince dropped in first at Jewish charity, Drugsline, in Gants Hill, where he officially opened a brand new extension to the organisation's telephone help centre.

During the visit, His Royal Highness, also known as the Earl of Wessex, chatted to a number of VIP guests, including Ilford North MP, Lee Scott, who he jokingly chastised for taking time off from his Parliamentary duties to attend the event.

The Prince was treated to a presentation by Wanstead High School pupil, Lisa Sharman, who said she had decided to raise money for Drugsline, after watching a friend struggling to cope with an addiction.

The 15-year-old told him how she had swum 187 lengths at Fullwell Cross swimming pool, Barkingside, in December, raising more than £80 for the charity, whose volunteers also work with youngsters in several Redbridge schools.

Before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit, His Royal Highness, also known as the Duke of Wessex, congratulated Chief Executive, Aryeh Sufrin, and his team of volunteers for the contribution made by Drugsline to the fight against substance misuse.

He said: "It is fantastic the work you are doing for the community, and I am very pleased to be here to open this new facility, which will allow you to expand the service you provide."

Before he left, the Prince was presented with a menorah, a Jewish candelabrum, which symbolises the continual fight between light and darkness.

Presenting the gift, Rabbi Sufrin, who set up Drugsline more than 16-years ago, thanked His Royal Highness for his words of support.

He said: "Your visit will make such a difference to everyone at Drugsline and to the people we serve."

The Royal cavalcade, flanked by six police motorcycles, was soon heading down Eastern Avenue in the direction of Findlay House in Manor Road, Woodford Green, the London headquarters of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA).

Greeting the Prince was GDBA Chief Executive, Bridget Warr, who presented him with a lively puppy called Wessex, a trainee guide dog named in honour of the Royal visit.

His Royal Highness was shown a demonstration of guide dog training, when Kristina Pisano, of Wanstead and Woodford Air Cadet Corps, was blindfolded and led around an obstacle course by a young Labrador.

Volunteers, Jean Selwood and Marilyn Brunger, chatted to the Prince about their work taking local schoolchildren on weekly tours of the facility, which can house as many as 120 young dogs at one time.

Mrs Selwood, who has volunteered for the GDBA for more than 20 years, was impressed by the interest His Royal Highness showed in the centre.

She said: "He was a charming man and was obviously genuinely interested in what we do here, and in the difference the service makes to so many lives."

These views were shared by Ms Warr, who said she hoped the visit would raise awareness of the Association's reliance on the help of its volunteers to survive.

She said: "I'm so pleased the Prince was able to visit us and speak to our volunteers, without whom we would simply exist.

"His Royal Highness showed how knowledgeable he is about our work and I hope his presence here will highlight the important work we are doing."