The Countess of Wessex listened to toddlers sing nursery rhymes during a visit to windswept Sussex.

During the hour-long visit to officially open a children's nursery in Bodle Street Green, near Herstmonceux, the Countess was delighted as youngsters sang four nursery rhymes, including Baa Baa Black Sheep and Hickory Dickory Dock.

She smiled as children aged up to five also proudly showed her their work at Attwood Farm Nursery School, which has been converted from a 16th Century barn.

Later, the Countess was taken to a play area where she planted a tree, watched by nursery owner Nick Godwin.

Wearing a cream-coloured outfit and carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag, she said: "I hope I'm not going to put all of this soil in."

The Countess, minus her husband Prince Edward, drove from her Royal residence at Bagshot Park, Surrey, in a two-litre navy blue £19,000 Rover V6.

A small crowd applauded as she accepted a spray of flowers and a home-made card from Mr Godwin's sons Felix, three, and Countess opens nursery Hugo, five. Of the nursery's children, she said: "They were idyllic."

The Countess then unveiled a plaque before speaking to well-wishers.

Among those she met was Nick Ring, 36, and his pregnant wife Vanessa, 34, whose baby is expected within ten days.

However, the Countess, who suffered an ectopic pregnancy deftly side-stepped questions on whether she intended to have children.

Mrs Ring, of Windmill Hill, near Hailsham, said: "She asked what sex the baby was going to be and when it was due.

"Unfortunately she didn't let on about whether she was expecting a baby herself.

"She was really lovely and it was great to see her."

The Montessori-based Attwood Farm, which has 39 children on its books, was set up in September last year with financial aid from the South-East England Development Agency (Seeda).

Mr Godwin said: "The children had been eagerly looking forward to this occasion and been busy painting and drawing to commemorate the event."