LINKING business with education won a Hanbury headteacher a Royal appointment.

Elfyn Charles, of Hanbury First School, in School Road, is a Business in the Community scheme member.

He was invited to meet the organisation's president, Prince Charles, at his Cotswolds residence.

The event celebrated the success of the initiative which encourages headteachers to join forces with a business partner who can offer useful financial advice.

Mr Charles has monthly meetings with Philip Archer, the small businesses manager at Barclays Bank, in Bromsgrove High Street. The pair enjoyed an afternoon at Highgrove with around 80 other members of the scheme.

Mr Charles said his pupils were keen to here about the Royal visit.

"It was very interesting and I was honoured to receive an invite," he added.