2008-08-01 13:22:04 - Britain's Prince Charles attracted criticism after travelling by helicopter to an environmentally-friendly event yesterday (31.07.08).

Britain's Prince Charles attracted criticism after travelling by helicopter to an environmentally-friendly event yesterday (31.07.08). The prince - who has previously been vocal on green issues - and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, opted to take the gas-guzzling

2-seater Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to the launch of the first carbon neutral beer by brewers Adnams Southwold, Suffolk. Their decision to fly rather than drive the 85 miles from their Sandringham Estate in Norfolk to Southwold left locals stunned, especially as they were visiting to back the brewery's attempts to reduce its carbon footprint. One local commented to Britain's The Daily Express newspaper: "It is a bit much for Charles to preach to everyone about being green and then arrive in a helicopter." Prospective Green Party deputy leader Adrian Ramsay said the prince was setting a bad example. He said: "It's good to see Adnams taking an environmental lead and good to see the prince taking an interest. "But it's very ironic that he should choose to travel by helicopter. It's not a long journey from Sandringham to Southwold. His official car would have been a much better option. "If he is genuine about raising environmental issues he must understand that these things matter. He's setting a bad example." The prince's staff insisted the helicopter had been the "most effective" way of travelling. A spokeswoman for prince said: "We always look at the most effective way of travelling, taking into account the different factors. "On this occasion it was felt a helicopter was the best way to travel so the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall could carry out various engagements in Suffolk."