HMS Liverpool sails into home city

HMS Liverpool will be based in its home city for five days

Navy warship HMS Liverpool has sailed into its home city for the first time in five years.

The Type-42 destroyer, which is usually based in Portsmouth, arrived at the Cruise Liner Terminal earlier and will be docked in the Mersey until Monday.

The ship has recently seen a year of operational sea training and deployment to the United States.

Commanding Officer Colin Williams said: "We have been very much looking forward to bringing the ship home."

"This is where the ship was born. She was built here. This is potentially our last visit," he added.

"The civic authorities have opened their doors to us and are really laying out the red carpet for us."

On Friday, the crew will parade through the streets, exercising their freedom of the city, to Our Lady and St Nicholas' Church.

The ship will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and will host tours for school children, college students, sea cadets and charity groups.