SCORES of people lined the entrance to Malmesbury Abbey this weekend to meet Prince Charles, who was attending a concert in the market town.

The royal was treated to the sound of the English Chamber Orchestra featuring British cellist Caroline Dale on Saturday evening.

The concert was organised by Music in Country Churches, which Prince Charles has been a patron of for 28 years.

The charity which was founded in 1989 helps raise money for churches for costly renovations and the funds raised from the three Malmesbury concerts will be given to St Giles church in Tytherton Kellaways for urgent roof repairs.

Vicar Neill Archer of Malmesbury Abbey said: “With the royal presence it means extra levels of organisation and we had to work closely with the police and Clarence House. In Malmesbury Abbey there are people who put in hours of work on the grounds, and of course the big highlight was the 100 children that were brought down from school to meet His Royal Highness.

“Even in the rain it was joyous to see him stopping to chat to the children and local people.”

Prince Charles spent a long time stopping to accept gifts and chatting to onlookers before heading inside the Abbey for the charity concert.

James Slade, of Winkins Lane, Great Somerford, said: “It was an honour to meet the Prince of Wales.

"We chatted about how I started my career in Malmesbury, went to Malmesbury secondary and how I grew up and lived in Great Somerford which he said has set me up very well.”

Another Malmesbury resident, Ellie Newton, 23, spoke to the Prince outside the Abbey after he spotted her six-week-old baby Albert William Newton, and she said “had made a beeline” to come and say hello.

She said: “He came over and asked Albert’s name and age. You could see when I said his name was Albert his face lit up."

“It was quite amazing, he’s not like what you’d expect.”

To date the charity has made donations to churches totalling more than £500,000.