A PIONEERING Hampshire activities centre for the disabled has been given another royal seal of approval.

In 1978 the late Princess Margaret officially launched the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre at Bursledon.

Five years later the facility, which has opened up new horizons for thousands of disabled people, won praise from the late Princess of Wales when she became its second royal visitor.

The Princess Royal completed the regal hat-trick by joining in the centre's 25th anniversary celebrations earlier this month. Echo photo by Stuart Martin. Order no: hbr0djl4

Now Princess Anne has heaped more royal praise on the work that is being carried out at the activities complex which nestles in Manor Farm Country Park.

The latest royal pat on the back comes in a letter which has been sent from Buckingham Palace to former Eastleigh mayor, Councillor Godfrey Olson, chairman of the centre's management committee.

In the message a spokesman for the princess says: "Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has asked me to thank you and your colleagues so very much for her extremely interesting visit to the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre.

"Her Royal Highness was so delighted to see something of some of your range of activities and to be able to meet so many of the people concerned in the centre.

"The princess would like to congratulate you all on what you are achieving and to wish you all every success for the future."

Councillor Olson, who accompanied the royal visitor on a tour of the activity centre's facilities, was delighted to get the letter. "It was very nice to receive the letter and showed that she really did take an interest and enjoyed her visit.

"The visit really set the seal on our 25th birthday party."