THE Princess Royal scaled the heights of Lincoln Cathedral during a visit to the city.

Princess Anne hiked up eight flights of stairs attached to scaffolding on the outside of the building to catch a glimpse of the dragon grotesque, which is mounted on the south-east transept of the cathedral.

The visit came after cathedral staff presented the Royal with a replica of the dragon at last year's Lincolnshire Show.

The grotesque, with its forked tongue, long tail and pointed ears, now sits in the grounds of her private Gloucestershire estate Gatcombe Park.

Cathedral fundraiser Sally Crawford said: "It was a real honour to have the princess visit the cathedral.

"The quality of the carving is wonderful and the replica is just as good, and to know there is a piece of Lincoln Cathedral afforded such a prestigious home is wonderful.

"We knew she was coming to the show and wanted to give her the first one to be created as a gift.

Cathedral stone carver Michael Thacker created the cathedral statue after the original became too corroded and weather-beaten to be restored.

A total of 50 copies of the beast were then cast in a bid to raise funds for maintenance of the historic building and have helped raise £35,000.

Each replica was made with cathedral stone dust from a silicone rubber mould and has a time capsule compartment to fill with personal treasures. Dressed in a turquoise jacket and blouse with light slacks and flat shoes, the Princess greeted a select gathering of Lincolnshire folk who also own the same statue.

John Lockwood and wife Judith have one of the dragons in their garden.

Mr Lockwood, of Cammeringham, who works in farming, said: "Princess Anne was very pleasant and interested in what we had to say.

"We talked about our own dragons and where they are in our homes."

During the visit, Lincoln Minster school pupil and chorister Poppy Wells, 10, handed over a posy of flowers to her highness.

She said: "I was very nervous and overwhelmed, but she was really nice and quite chatty.

"It was scary, but at the same time quite exciting."

The Lindum Group in Lincoln were one of the first companies to buy a dragon and also drove Princess Anne's statue to her home.

Marketing manager Neil Coote said: "It was really quite surprising as she was very relaxed and met me and the other chap who came to help move it on her own with just her dogs.

"She even helped to support it when we put it in place and helped with the unpacking. I found her charming."