PRINCE Charles was in Poundbury yesterday showing politicians around his model village.

The Prince of Wales invited Planning Minister Keith Hill and members of the Welsh Assembly for a royal tour of the development to show how the mix of private and social housing, along with workplaces and leisure facilities, is intended to build inclusive and sustainable communities.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown had also been expected to join the tour, but pulled out after his mother fell ill.

In a low-key tour the prince and his entourage walked around the village's streets and greeted passers-by.

Former Dorchester mayor Wally Gundry said he had met the Prince on a number of occasions in Poundbury.

He said the Prince took an active interest in the development and was pleased with how it was progressing.

Mr Gundry said: "He told me he is very happy with the way it's going.

"He said he thought that Dorchester on the whole was very pleased with the development and how it is going.

"I think it's down to his commitment that the place is getting on as well as it is."

Mr Gundry said over lunch he had talked with several Welsh politicians and told them of the benefits of the way Poundbury had been planned.

He said: "They're looking at developments in the valleys where the coal mines were and wanted to see how this place works.

"They said with Welsh-style houses this sort of thing could work very well."

Edgar Golesworthy, who lives on the estate, was there to take pictures of the royal tour. He said: "It would have been nice to talk to him. I have watched lots of these buildings grow from nothing and I think some of them are a bit over the top now.

"The older end of Poundbury is nice - there are some lovely streets - but the new part is too cramped."

Planning Minister Keith Hill said he had wanted to visit Poundbury to see if this kind of sustainable development could be used as a blueprint for 200,000 homes across the South East of England.

He said: "We're interested in the way that Poundbury was planned because it involves the whole community right at the start of the planning process and that goes a long way to building sustainability in a community."

The royal visit comes after a turbulent few months for Poundbury.

In August developer Woodpecker Properties was refused planning application to build 31 flats, two shops and a parking area at Jubilee Court.

Residents had argued that the plans far exceeded the number of homes recommended by Government planners, with 132 dwellings per hectare, compared with the Government's guidelines of 30 to 50.

The estate also had to cope with the influx of travellers for more than a week during the summer.

Around 50 gypsies camped on land off Peverell Avenue, sparking complaints from people living nearby.