The Duchess of Cambridge visited a dockside museum and joked with firemen in Grimsby in north east Lincolnshire.

Former trawlerman John Vincent, now a guide, showed her around the award-winning dockside museum with its mocked-up 1950s high street complete with a traditional pub, which he and Kate called into.

She also discussed environmental issues, such as the sustainability of North Sea fishing, with local trawler owner Kurt Christensen.

Mr Vincent said: "It's been fantastic, a great honour. She's a great lady.

The pregnant queen-to-be was greeted with loud cheers by the crowd that gathered outside Grimsby's Peaks Lane Fire Station. Whilst being show around, Kate said the fireman's pole reminded her of a scene out of Bridget Jones.

Around 200 people were on the streets outside the station where some had been waiting in the cold for nearly three hours to see her.

She was met by local dignitaries before making an unplanned stop on her way into the building to meet around 10 adults and children who were patients at nearby St Andrew's Hospice.

Stooping slightly to talk to a group of women, who were wrapped in blankets as they sat in their wheelchairs, Kate shared a loud laugh with them.

Claire Moss-Smith, 86, said to the Duchess: "I'm waiting for you to be Queen." Kate laughed and replied: "You might be waiting a long time."