A HORWICH business had a brush with royalty after answering the call to help turn a derelict street into homes fit for heroes.

The team from the hit BBC show DIY SOS has been in Manchester with kind-hearted tradespeople who have given up their time to transform properties in Canada Street, Newton Heath.

Prince William and Harry have also visited the site and mucked in with hundreds of other volunteers.

One of them was Sam Aston, of Chorley New Road based Direct Tile and Stone Company.

She responded to an appeal by the organisers of the project, and said she was delighted to be involved.

She said: "I responded to an email campaign the DIY SOS team had launched, explaining I was a local business and if there was anything I could do to help, whether it be labour or materials, I would do.

"So I fired them an email over offering my help.

"The DIY SOS team came back to me with a list of materials which they needed for the job to complete the tiling and I was more than happy to help.

"I hot footed it over to Manchester only to be met by Prince William and Harry — well not actually met by them, but I got the chance within touching distance.

"We had an amazing day, it was really overwhelming with all the volunteers hard work and co-ordination to pull something of that size off in such a small space of time.

"The soldiers helped out too, all of it for the greater good. I felt proud to be a part of and having put my bit towards it too."

In total eight houses will be renovated, and 62 house fronts will be given a makeover.

In addition a support centre will be created at the site, to help ex-servicemen retrain and offer support for those with mental or physical injuries.

It will be run by the Walking with the Wounded charity and the Royal British Legion.

The show's presenter Nick Knowles appealed for more people to come forward over the weekend to help with the project, which is the largest the show has ever embarked on.