Prince William and Kate visit Blackpool Published duration 6 March 2019

image copyright PA image caption The duchess was dressed in an olive green coat

Hundreds of people welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the seaside as they visited Blackpool.

Prince William and Catherine were in the Lancashire resort to see health and social problems facing the town - as well as some of its famous landmarks.

Despite the rain, crowds waited hours on the promenade to see the pair who started their trip at Blackpool Tower.

They were also taken to some of the resort's most deprived areas to see the regeneration work being done there.

image copyright Getty Images image caption The royal pair went on a walkabout on the Comedy Carpet

image copyright WPA Pool/Getty image caption The couple watched dancers waltz in the Tower Ballroom

They kicked off the tour at the tower, where they looked at a giant mirror, unveiled by the Princess of Wales in 1992 to mark the opening of Tower World, which Prince William described as "fantastic" and "amazing".

They then went to a briefing on the resort's challenges, such as economic decline.

The prince said Blackpool was "once a jewel in the crown of the British tourism industry" before people began to travel further afield for their holidays.

He spoke of high unemployment rates but also highlighted "brilliant schemes", including a new enterprise zone.

image copyright Chris Jackson image caption Prince William was presented with a paper crown on a walkabout on the Comedy Carpet

image copyright Getty Images image caption Catherine met children during a walkabout on the Comedy Carpet

The royal couple then went into the Tower Ballroom and watched the dancers before leaving for a walkabout on the Comedy Carpet.

The duchess told well-wishers she hoped to go up to the top of Blackpool Tower one day, and bring her children on their next visit.

The pair were shown around a housing project in Kirby Road. Blackpool Housing Company has bought several dilapidated properties in the area and refurbished them to rent.

image copyright PA image caption The duke and duchess visited Kirby Road

The royal couple also met recovering drug addicts who explained how an initiative had helped them get their lives back on track.

Prince William told Louise West, 34, and Steven Brown, 40, he was "so proud of you guys".

The royal pair ended the tour at recently revamped Revoe Park.