SAILORS on one the biggest warships in the British Fleet will navigate their way around the rabbit warren of corridors on board using the towns and villages of County Durham.

Crew members from HMS Bulwark, the county's adopted ship, were in Durham City yesterday to take delivery of an unusual gift - dozens of surplus bus stop signs.

The sailors hope to rename parts of the ship after Durham's villages so they can find their way round.

The bus stop signs will be hung up below decks to help newcomers find their way.

At present, the amphibious assault ship's maze of corridors and rooms are known by rather impersonal numbers and letters.

Once the bus stop signs are on board, they will be renamed Pity Me, Quebec, Toronto, No Place and Billy Row.

The ship's company of almost 700 men and women live on a single deck, which they share with the ship's 'hotel' services.

The crew are yet to decide which parts of the ship will be named after which villages, but could choose from Waterhouses for the toilets, Trimdon for the barbers, Bedburn for the sleeping quarters, Sockburn for the laundry, or Crook for the ship's prison.

The ship's commanding officer, Chris Connolly, said: "It is not easy to find your way around such a big ship.

"We thought that putting bus stop signs outside each facility - each bearing the name of a town or village in County Durham - would make things easier to remember, as well as reinforcing the links with our affiliated county.

"We've had a real problem getting our hands on some old bus stop signs, and after months of drawing a blank, we thought we'd ask the county council to help, not knowing they had a public transport unit. Suddenly, we've got more than we need. It's great."

The bus stop signs were handed over yesterday by Durham County Council chief executive, Kingsley Smith.

"We were delighted to help our friends on Bulwark," said Mr Smith.

"We had a number of old plastic bus stop signs in storage gathering dust, which could not have been re-used and were on the point of being thrown out. We're glad to put them to good use."