THE Prince of Wales proved he was a chip off the old block when he picked up a mallet and chisel during a tour of York College's stonemasonry department.

The Prince, who officially opened the Stonemasonry Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), later joked that he should secretly take a stonemasonry course, and surprise everyone next time he was asked to try his hand at the skill.

The Royal visitor was given a rapturous welcome to the college and, in a scene usually associated with Hollywood actors, screaming girls held aloft their mobile picture phones in an attempt to capture him on camera.

During the official opening of the CoVE - a partnership between York College, City of Bath College and Weymouth College - the Prince praised the colleges' work and said he was keen to promote vocational careers for young people.

"If we want to see this country's remarkable historic heritage preserved we obviously need more stonemasons and other craftsmen," he said.

The Prince then unveiled a plaque at the college, and via a weblink, revealed the plaques at the other two colleges.

Award-winning students Gary Collier and Paul Bennett also presented him with two stone plaques for his garden at Highgrove.

As the Prince toured the department he chatted to bricklaying students, including Richard Dunning, 23, and Luke Osquthorpe, 18.

Luke said: "He was telling me about his house in Dorchester and he said he likes ornamental features."

Richard added: "He was easier to talk to than I thought."

The Prince was given demonstrations of sandblasting and tried his hand at stone carving under the watchful eye of student Ross Hession, 20.

Ross said: "He wasn't too bad. He could easily get a place on a course here."

Updated: 10:47 Saturday, December 11, 2004