THE Queen will visit Malmesbury with the Duke of Edinburgh in March as part of a tour of north Wiltshire towns.

The news has been widely welcomed. Deputy Mayor of Malmesbury and local historian John Bowen said: "In the last Millennium we had seven visits from the reigning monarch what a way to start a new Millennium."

He said Henry VII, Henry III and Charles I had called in at Malmesbury, but the visit by a reigning monarch in the first year of a new Millennium was particularly special.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Sir Maurice Johnston said it was great news for the county.

"I'm absolutely thrilled," he said. Sir Maurice said the visit would be part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

"The Queen is hoping to visit as much of the United Kingdom as she can. So she's starting early, and this will be one of the first visits," he said.

He said details of the programme were still in the planning stage but a visit to the new Wiltshire College, Chippenham was on the cards.

The itinerary has yet to be finalised but it is understood the Queen will arrive by train in Chippenham in the morning, go on to Malmesbury for lunch, before visiting Calne in the afternoon.

Included in the tour will be a visit to Chippenham's Heritage Centre.

The news has been greeted with special jubilation in Chippenham as it will be the town's first royal visitor for 57 years.

Chippenham town clerk Laurie Brown said: "The Queen will visit the Heritage Centre so we can show our newest facility. It will show the links between Chippenham and the Royal Family have gone back many, many years.

Mayor Sandie Webb said the Duke of Edinburgh is president of the Playing Fields Association and she hoped the visit might coincide with the launch of Chippenham's new playing fields.

Calne Mayor Eric Porter was also delighted. He said: "It's absolutely fantastic news for Calne, particularly coming at a time when the town centre is finally reaching completion."

Calne town clerk Ann Kingdon said she was looking forward to showing the Queen and Prince Phillip the major developments in the town.