Warship sails home for five days

HMS Walney will visit Barrow for a five-day tour

The Royal Navy warship HMS Walney is due to sail back to its home town of Barrow in Cumbria on Thursday.

The Sandown class minehunter was built and launched in the town in 1991 and will dock for five days.

The ship's company of 38 will be getting involved in the community by taking on Barrow police in a football match to cement links with the town.

Members of the public will also be able to come on board on 23 October to see the vessel's hi-tech equipment.

HMS Walney's arrival coincides with the finale of Barrow's Festival of the Sea and the town's 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar celebrations.

Commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Jon Beadsmoore, said: "We are looking forward to the visit tremendously and we want to renew old friendships and start some new ones hopefully."