MILKSHAKE flavours created by school children across the Five Valleys were given the royal seal of approval today, Monday.

HRH Prince Charles announced the winners of Dairy Crest’s Frijj Challenge at the Stroud Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering.

Prince Charles officially opened the festival, which is organised by Stroud MP Neil Carmichael and is now in its third year.

He was given a tour of the Creation and Innovation Revealed Exhibition this morning, which kicked off the festival at Stratford Park Leisure Centre.

Prince Charles met with more than 30 local employers who took part in the exhibition including Omega, Renishaw and Delphi.

He also met a group of Year 8 pupils from across the Five Valleys who had made it to the final of Dairy Crest’s Frijj Challenge.

Pupils competed in groups within their schools and the winners went to the final stage of the competition which was announced at the festival today.

HRH met with the pupils to discuss their product and the process, which began in September, before he tried out a couple of the new flavours himself.

A group of Year 8 girls from Thomas Keble School were the first to team to have their blueberry pie and clotted cream milkshake tested by Prince Charles.

“He said he could definitely taste the clotted cream and was very nice as well,” said Eve Brassington, 13.

“He did say that although it was supposed to be healthy it probably wasn’t the kind of thing you could have all the time.”

In the end Maidenhill School’s Black Forrest gateau milkshake took the prize and were presented with a cow- shaped trophy by HRH and Mr Carmichael.

Maidenhill pupils Katie Everitt, Imogen Louks, Kate Hurn, all 13, and Amie Radford, 12, said they couldn’t believe they won.

“When HRH tried our milkshake he said it was immense but we weren’t sure whether to believe him,” said Imogen.

“We just can’t believe we won. All the other school’s products were just so good.”

Addressing the crowd at the event Prince Charles said how marvellous it was that the festival had continued in Stroud over a number of years.

“I am very glad to have had this opportunity to come here as the engineering sector is something I have always been interested in,” he said.

“It is marvellous to see how many manufacturing and engineering companies are working in the area, particularly Stonehouse, and also how well they are doing.

“There is a general skills shortage in this sector and there is a humongous amount of backlog to be caught up with, which is why it is fantastic to see so many children here taking an interest in engineering.

“This country has always been renowned for its engineering and it is important to continue to encourage an interest in it.

“Nothing would give me more pleasure than to open the festival.”