A ROYAL Navy aircraft carrier berthed in the North- East for a five-day visit yesterday.
HMS Ark Royal returned to the River Tyne, an area with which it has a close affiliation.
Its steel was first cut at Swan Hunter’s yard in Wallsend in December 1978, before the official launch in 1981.
Commanding officer Captain John Clink said: “Coming back to the Tyne just over 30 years to the day since her shipbuilding began is a great honour and I know that our many North-East crew members are excited to be coming home.
“My entire team is very much looking forward to sharing their experiences with our visitors.”
The Ark Royal is docked at Northumbria Quay, in North Shields, and will be open to the public on Saturday, from 10am until 3pm. Admission is free.
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