Warship handed over to Royal Navy

HMS Daring will be the first of six Type 45 destroyers to enter service

One of the world's most advanced warships has been officially handed over to the Royal Navy during a ceremony on the Clyde.

HMS Daring will be the first of six new Type 45 destroyers built by BVT Surface Fleet in Glasgow to enter service.

The 7,000-tonne ship has successfully carried out sea trials after launching at BVT's Scotstoun yard in 2006.

It is due to sail to its new home port of Portsmouth in January for further trials before becoming operational.

The Type 45s replace the ageing fleet of Type 42s as part of a £6bn project.

HMS Dragon was launched in November 2008, HMS Dauntless in January 2007 and HMS Diamond in November 2007.

They are due to come into service in 2009 and 2010.

Work on the fifth and six T45s, Defender and Duncan, is still ongoing.

Each of the 150m long vessels has a price tag of £605m.