POSIES in hand, children lined up to meet Princess Anne during her trip to Gwent yesterday.

But some were disappointed.

The first stop on the Princess Royal's tour was at a woodland project in Hollybush, Blackwood, but her visit there was cancelled at the last miniute because of heavy rain.

The area she was to have visited became sodden and muddy. Youngsters she was to have met turned up and instead continued with their planned activities learning about the woodland.

Argoed School pupil Courtney Evans was celebrating her tenth birthday and had been picked to present a posy of white and yellow roses to the Princess.

"I was a bit down when she didn't come," said Courtney. "But I gave the roses to my mum instead."

The rest of the visit went as planned with the Princess Royal meeting adult learners and their tutors at The Power Station in Cwmbran.

She then headed to the Integrated Children's Centre at Hollybush Primary School.

At the centre, which opened last September, the Princess Royal met children enjoying their half term break at the holiday club, the playgroup, and pre-school children, including a mums and babies Sure Start group.

She then enjoyed a cup of tea before revealing a plaque marking her visit.

The Princess Royal told her audience she was delighted by the £1 million centre.

"It's certainly a very attractive proposition for anybody coming here," she said.

"And if you make sure that you do so I'm sure it will stand the test of time. It's a very good example."

Mayor of Torfaen, Bill King, said: "I thought it was very good indeed. Her Royal Highness showed a great deal of interest in the centre and it was nice to see her talking to the people who actually come here and use the building."

Nine-year-old Ffion Pearce is a member of the Holiday Club. She said she had been excited about seeing the Princess Royal.

"It's nice that she came to see us," she said.