THE Royal Navy's flagship has departed North-East waters after its latest successful visit renewing friendships in Durham.

HMS Invincible sailed from the River Tyne at North Shields, where it was based during the five-day stay to maintain affiliations with its adopted city.

The ship's 700-strong company took part in a number of engagements, both on board and in the Durham area, after it berthed at Tyne Commission Quay last Friday.

A party of 200 crew members sampled night life in Durham at the weekend, and Invincible's golfers were invited to a round by members at Durham City Golf Club, at Langley Moor on Sunday.

Also on Sunday Commanding officer Captain Trevor Soar helped to start Durham's Great River Wear Duck Race.

Soccer-playing sailors took on teams of male and female students from New College Durham, in fun games at Chester-le-Street's Riverside sports complex on Monday.

Then in a floodlit match at Archibald Stadium in Durham, they played a Durham City AFC XI made up of many North-East ex-professionals to raise funds for Mayor Ray Gibbon's Charity Appeal Fund and for St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham.

On board the aircraft harrier there was a careers convention aimed at attracting graduates to the Navy.