Thousands on board for tall ships

Most of the ships are open for the public to get on board

Tens of thousands of people are in Liverpool to see one of the largest fleets of tall ships ever assembled in the city.

Princess Anne launched the Tall Ships Race Festival on the city's Albert and Wellington docks on Friday.

Organisers estimated that about 50,000 people were there to see the start of the festival.

More than 70 ships are berthed along the Mersey's banks until Sunday, before a "Parade of Sail" on Monday.

Most of the vessels are open to the public.

After Liverpool, the ships will gather off Northern Ireland for the start of the first race leg to Norway.

The ships will then cruise to Bergen for the second leg of the race to Den Helder in the Netherlands.

It is the third time race entrants have visited Liverpool - competitors also sailed along the Mersey in 1984 and 1992.

Ships from more than 18 countries including Brazil, Poland, Oman and Germany are taking part in the event.

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