HMS Tyne - the Royal Navy's newest patrol vessel - will be commissioned on the river of her name , it was revealed last night.

The ceremony will be held at the Tyne Commission Quay, North Tyneside, at 11am, on Friday.

Conducted by the Chaplain of the Fleet and Archdeacon for the Royal Navy, the Venerable Barry Hammet, the event will be attended by a host of distinguished guests.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: "This is a unique occasion as very few ships of the Royal Navy are commissioned away from their operational ports of Portsmouth, Plymouth or Faslane.

"The most significant of these rare occasions in recent history was during the Falklands War when the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, which was built at Swan Hunter, was commissioned at sea."

The commanding officer of the 80m long vessel, Commander Craig Gilmour, who lives in Newcastle, said: "This visit is a very special occasion for the ship.

"It marks the culmination of 12 months' hard work for my ship's company in bringing the ship from build to operational status as fishery protection vessel."

Since last visiting Tyneside, HMS Tyne has patrolled the entirety of the British Fishery Limits and boarded many fishing vessels from eight European na- tions.

She has steamed some 11,000 miles since being handed over to the Royal Navy in January this year.

As well as her prime role, she has had some high-profile visits, including a visit to Belfast in April in company with the Irish naval vessel Le Eithne.