First of the Mohicans to meet Prince Philip

It was a hair-raising experience for the Duke of Edinburgh when he met a community campaigner from Kidderminster during the Queen's visit to the Midlands.

Ian Betterton warmly welcomed Prince Philip sporting a giant red Mohican hairstyle as he lined up alongside other guests in Worcester yesterday.

The Duke had joined the Queen on the first of her two-day tour of the region as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

And he did a double-take as he met Mr Betterton, known as Spike, at a reception at the Guildhall in Worcester yesterday lunchtime. Mr Betterton is chairman of the Friends of St Georges Park community group which aims to develop and improve the Kidderminster parkland.

He was among guests who greeted the Royal party as they arrived at the Guildhall for lunch during their tour of Worcester and Herefordshire. After meeting the Duke, the 42-year-old, said: "He asked me if I support local hairdressers.

"I told him I do it myself and that's why it's a bit wonky." The Royal couple then went walkabout where the Queen collected numerous posies from the crowd before getting in the Royal car to continue on to Worcester Cathedral.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were continuing their tour today starting with a walkabout in Birmingham's Victoria Square. The Royal party were then visiting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to officially open the new building before attending a Diamond Jubilee Pageant at RAF Cosford.

After a reception and a lunch, they were taking a slow drive around the RAF museum and airfield and then viewing the pageant.