A TEAM from Trafford Housing Trust received the royal seal of approval when they volunteered to help build homes for veterans last week.

The trust deployed three members of its Clean Start team after BBC TV Show DIY SOS put a call out for experienced staff to refurbish homes in Newton Heath for former army servicemen and women.

Clean Start employs ex-offenders in a variety of property and grounds maintenance roles and Mike Berry, Neil Turner, and Dean Burgess volunteered to help.

As an added bonus, the trust’s team were introduced to Prince Harry, who dropped in on the project unexpectedly and took a tour of the site with his brother Prince William last Wednesday.

Steve Lever, the trust’s senior social enterprise manager who oversaw the work, said: “It was fantastic to meet Prince Harry and tell him about the work Clean Start does to help rehabilitate ex-offenders.

"We also chatted about how the trust is keen to do more work to support veterans and he wished us luck in future with both these and all the other worthy projects we are involved in.”

The DIY SOS scheme, which was completed on Monday, created four newly adapted homes for veterans and their families, as well as a Walking With The Wounded advice and therapy centre.