HMS OCEAN, the Royal Navy's largest warship, is to visit the North-East as part of the year-long Sea Britain celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The warship will sail into Sunderland for the weekend of June 4 to 5, when Regiment 656 Army Air Corp will embark.

Ocean will then take part in an exercise that will see Army Air Corp Apache helicopters operating from her flight deck for the first time since industry-led flying trials last March.

She sails back into port on Friday, June 17 for a four-day goodwill visit to her affiliated city It will be the longest period the ship has spent in Sunderland in recent years.

It presents an opportunity for visitors to go aboard, and for the crew - all Freemen of Sunderland - to enjoy time ashore.

Council leader Councillor Bob Symonds said: "HMS Ocean will be returning to Sunderland less than a year after her previous visit when we had the honour of giving the ship's company the Freedom of the City.

"This longer visit in port will give us the chance to further develop our strong ties with HMS Ocean and to showcase the city's attractions to our visitors."

In addition to the ship's open day on Sunday, June 19, the focus of the visit on the Saturday will be a recruitment promotion, called Meet the Marines.

Captain Tony Johnstone-Burt said: "I am delighted that we will have this opportunity to return to Sunderland so soon to once again show off Ocean and to enjoy what promises to be an extremely action-packed and worthwhile visit."