Community spirit was on show for the Prince of Wales as he visited a Cumbrian village transformed by people power.

Charles dropped into Ennerdale Bridge during a tour of the county to witness its rejuvenation, which started when villagers were given the ultimatum of raising £67,000 in less than a fortnight to save one of its pubs.

The challenge began when local Peter Maher wrote a recovery business plan for the Fox and Hounds Inn after it had closed and was told by the owner of the building they could take over the lease if they could come up with the required cash.

In just eight days the target figure was reached as 167 people, mainly locals, pledged to buy shares in the Ennerdale Hub co-operative and the pub was reopened in April 2011 under community management.

The potential for more regeneration in the village in the Ennerdale Valley was instantly recognised after a previous decline in local services in the small village of just over 400 people.

Five years later, The Gather community centre, named after the autumn meeting of farmers on the fells to sort their sheep, was opened.

The community hub raised more than £700,000 to transform a former Forestry Commission building into a centre which houses a cafe, a shop, a gymnasium and a meeting area.

Prince Charles unveiled a plaque to mark his visit to the centre.

Mr Maher said: "The essence of the pub is that it is a community-run venture which has a family environment and is very relaxed.

"We did not know how many people would come to that first meeting to discuss saving the pub but 130 turned up.

"After the pub - that was a priority! - villagers then started discussing what next we could do to bring back services we had lost over the years, including a village shop and a post office.

"We were worried about the financial viability of the centre as we needed more than just the villagers to sustain it.

"But the cafe has been really successful and they are run off their feet."

On his walk round the village, Charles met local farmer William Rawling, who brought two of his Herdwick sheep - native to the Lake District fells - with him.

Mr Rawling said: "He is very interested in Herdwick sheep. They came off the mountain today."

He said Charles was also very supportive about youngsters getting into farming and listened to the career plans of 12-year-old Patrick Cullinan to take up sheep farming.

Patrick said: "I help out at the farm with lambing and I like being in the outdoors.

"My dad is an electrician, my mum works in an office, one sister does physiotherapy and the other is involved in sports science but I want to be a farmer."

Charles also met a local "Cinderella" from a Whitehaven children's party business who presented him with gifts for his grandchildren, a superhero costume for George and a princess outfit for Charlotte.