A Royal Navy warship affiliated to Ramsey has set sail for a four-year tour of duty in the Gulf.

HMS Ramsey, a 600-tonne Sandown class minehunter, left the Faslane navy base in Scotland today (Wednesday), and is paying a visit to the Isle of Man before heading east.

The 52-metre vessel is made from plastic rather than metal, to avoid setting off mines, and is one of the world's most advanced minehunters.

Last April an honour guard from the ship marched through the town before the commissioners conferred the freedom of entry on her.

As well as the town, HMS Ramsey is also affiliated with the Steam Packet Company, the Ramsey Charitable Trust, the Manx Sailing and Cruising Club, Ramsey Grammar School, the Ramsey Branch of the RNLI and the Sea Cadet Unit TS Whitehaven.

Her 36-strong crew will rotate every six months during the tour, which her captain, Lieutenant Commander Alex Bush, described as a 'great adventure which will be a fantastic experience for the crew'.