Warship crew's pride at sailing into home city

Merseyside HMS Prince of Wales crew members Michael Edwards, Declan Bennett and Kieron Mackay with Captain Will Blackett

Sailors on the Royal Navy's largest aircraft carrier have spoken of their pride at the warship receiving the freedom of their home city.

HMS Prince of Wales docked in Liverpool for the first time in four years at the weekend.

The Queen Elizabeth-class warship brought about 800 crew to the city to receive the highest honour the it can bestow.

Kieron Mackay, 24, from Netherley in south Liverpool, said: "I get to see my family being proud of me. It made me unbelievably happy to be in my hometown."

HMS Prince of Wales is the Royal Navy's largest aircraft carrier

Marine engineer Declan Bennett, 21, from Kirkby, added: "I was standing on the aft of the ship looking out, and as soon as we spun round and I saw the Liver Building I was made up."

Petty Officer John Meacock, from the city's Tuebrook district, said he never tired of arriving in his home port.

He has sailed on both HMS Liverpool and the Prince of Wales in his 33-year career with the service.

He said: "Everybody says the best run ashore is Liverpool, even when they are from Newcastle or places like that."

Around 800 crew members arrived in Liverpool on the ship

The visit is Prince of Wales' second to Liverpool, and sections of the ship were built at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead on the other side of the River Mersey.

One of the passageways on the ship - a number of which already bear Liverpool street signs - will be renamed Penny Lane on Tuesday.

Later, civic dignitaries and leading figures from industry, education and Liverpool’s cultural scene will watch a demonstration of what the ship and her sailors can do, followed by a ceremonial sunset ceremony supported by the Corps of Drums of His Majesty’s Royal Marines.

On Wednesday, hundreds of teenagers and young people will board the ship for an educational visit, with 20,000 tickets for tours of the ship available to the public.