Vessel marks town's Nelson links

The schooner is open to the public from Friday to Monday

A replica of the schooner that carried news to Britain of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's victory and death at Trafalgar 200 years ago has arrived at Ipswich.

HMS Pickle is at the port as part of the year-long SeaBritain 2005 festival celebrating the UK's maritime heritage.

The vessel berthed on Thursday afternoon opposite Old Custom House where events will mark the Norfolk hero's links with the town.

HMS Pickle will be open to the public from Friday until Monday.

After docking on Thursday a civic party, accompanied by a group from the ship, laid a wreath at the grave of the designer of HMS Victory, Sir Thomas Slade, in St Clements's churchyard.

HMS Pickle is the flagship of the charity sailing organisation the Ocean Youth Trust East.

French rescued

The vessel began touring the UK in May to celebrate the bicentenary year of Britain's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and Lord Nelson's death during the battle.

Lieutenant Lapenotiere arrived at Falmouth in his fast ship HMS Pickle to bring the news of the victory and Nelson's death to England in November 1805.

During the battle of Trafalgar, Pickle was stationed to the north-west of the weather line, where Nelson was leading HMS Victory into battle.

In the latter stages of the battle, Pickle and three other vessels went to the rescue of the crew of the French ship, Achille, which was ablaze.