A TEENAGER has returned to the warship where she was baptised 13 years ago.

Baby Milly Dodd was christened on the flight deck of HMS Ocean in 2004, with ship chaplain Padre Reverend Mike Brotherton using an upturned bell serving as the font.

Today, the 13-year-old returned to visit the ship with mum and dad Verity and Andrew Dodd as Ocean made her six-day farewell visit to her adopted city of Sunderland before being decommissioned next year.

Mrs Dodd has links to the ship from her work promoting Sunderland International Airshow and was invited to hold the nautical christening when her baby was born.

On Saturday, more than 200 crew members will hold a Freedom Parade through Sunderland city centre.

Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr Doris MacKnight said: “We are delighted to be welcoming HMS Ocean and her crew back to Sunderland, for the final time.

“Freedom parades are always a spectacular sight and I know people will once again be looking forward to seeing officers and crew parade.

“By exercising the Freedom of the City, there’s an opportunity for everybody to show their appreciation, show how proud Sunderland is of its links with the Royal Navy and say goodbye.”

The parade will begin with officers and crew stepping off from the Civic Centre steps at 11am, before a short service at the war memorial on Burdon Road, then marching through the streets accompanied by Her Majesty’s Band of the Royal Marines.

The parade will then take in Fawcett Street, High Street West, Union Street, Market Square, Waterloo Place and Holmeside before returning to Burdon Road.

The ship is open to the public on Sunday from 11am to 6pm and she will leave the Port of Sunderland for the final time on Tuesday.