PREPARATIONS are under way for a Royal visit to Bolton next week.

Prince Edward will visit Bolton School and the new University Technical College at the University of Bolton.

The royal will officially unveil the new £10 million UTC, which opened in September, and have a tour of the facilities.

The new UTC opened in September oversubscribed, and is a new concept of in education aimed at 14 to 19 year olds bringing together practical, technical and academic learning with an industry focus.

The UTC is specialising in health sciences and engineering technologies, two areas in which a skills shortage has been identified nationally.

Prince Edward will also visit Bolton School, where he will unveil a plaque to commemorate the school's centenary.

The visit is the latest event in the school's birthday celebrations, and it will also serve as recognition of the school's involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and charity work carried out by students.

Philip Britton, headmaster of Bolton School Boys’ Division, said: “The school eagerly awaits the visit of HRH The Earl of Wessex. We look forward to telling him more about how we are one of the North’s leading schools for the number of pupils undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award and how all pupils in our two senior schools embark upon the Bronze Award.

"We will share with him how much fun the pupils have and how rewarding they find the experience. He will also learn about the time and effort that our pupils — and Sixth Form students particularly — put into volunteering and helping out in the local community and beyond.

"We are also delighted that he will meet some of our students in our new Riley Sixth Form Centre and will learn a little more about our school before unveiling a plaque celebrating 100 years of the Bolton School Foundation."

On his visit to the area, Prince Edward will also attend the award ceremony for the Bruntwood Prize for playwriting which is being held at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester.