REPRESENTATIVES of a Wyre Forest Parent Teacher Association chatted with Prince Philip about their work.

Sue Collingridge and Claire Wier, vice-chairman and treasurer, respectively, of Franche First School's PTA, attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, held to celebrate the work and achievements of PTAs.

It also marked the 50th anniversary of the National Confederation of PTAs - NCPTA - which recognises schemes involving parents and makes awards for best practice.

Franche First School was an award winner in 2005 for parents' input into setting up the Forest School and, as a result, was invited to be represented at the Palace, in the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh.

The school's headteacher, Val Weddell-Hall, said she was "proud" the NCPTA had recognised Franche First's achievements.

She added: "We have a wonderful team of parents, teachers and friends of the school, who work extremely hard and achieve a great deal for the school and deserve to be recognised in this way."

The school holds its next fund-raising event, a summer fair, on Sunday, July 16.