The Duchess of Cambridge officially opened a new treatment centre to help people to beat addiction.

Kate Middleton appeared before dozens of residents in Wickford ahead of the grand opening of a new Action on Addiction treatment centre.

She arrived this afternoon to a sea of happy faces, wearing a long royal blue coat, her hair down and a simple pair of black high heels.

Kate is the patron of the charity which helps people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.

The centre hosts a rolling cycle of nine-week long self-help addiction recovery programmes called Clouds in the Community.

It serves as a starting point for long-term recovery and abstinence, leading to improvements in participants' physical and mental health and overall quality of life.

Ahead of her arrival, residents expressed their pride in Kate coming to Essex to represent the charity.

Rachel Corps, 31, from Crouch Avenue in Hullbridge works as a nurse at Southend Hospital.

She said that it is an important sign that the Duchess has supported Action on Addiction and appeared at the event.

She said: “I work in the NHS as a nurse and we deal with a lot of addictions and I think it is a really important cause, which is massively stretched.

“To have such a prominent figure that can put her name to something that is not so glamorous is really important in raising awareness.”

Bob Fortt, 73, of Edward Gardens, added: “It’s good for Wickford to have a bit of royalty in the town, it is exciting.

“It is a genuine thing to come for as well, with her profile it is good as she is a big figurehead to have for a cause.”

The Duchess met with the staff, clients, partners and supporters during her visit.

The Mayor of Basildon, David Harrison was also present for the event to welcome Kate.

David Rodwell, 77, Ethelred Gardens, said: “We are very much royalists and I think it is marvellous that she is coming local.

“It is very important her name is attached to this charity, she is really following up from William’s mum, (Princess) Diana, she is carrying on that tradition of charitable work which I know the royals do anyway, but it is a really good thing and she is showing a great image to the country for the future.”