THE captain of one of the Royal Navy's biggest ships visited a small school yesterday - and invited all 12 of its pupils to spend a lively time at sea with him as soon as he can arrange it.

Captain Jerry Stanford, commander of HMS Bulwark, spent two hours chatting to the children at the primary school in Forest-in-Teesdale near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The Bulwark, a 20,000 tonne amphibious assault vessel, has forged a friendship link with the school, the smallest in the North-East, so the captain turned up for a first visit with eight of his crew.

After hearing about their lives and telling them some seafaring tales, he invited them all to visit his ship during its next trip to the region.

Capt Stanford said: "I'm thrilled to have been linked to such a wonderful school. We will send postcards, photographs and e-mails to the pupils from different parts of the world and will be glad to hear from them."

The children presented him with a toy sheepdog called Gel, which will become the ship's mascot.

Headteacher Carole Connolly said: "This has been one of the most exciting days in the life of our school. It is fantastic to have the captain and crew here telling about their huge ship and what it does."

Durham County Council has adopted the Bulwark, which is due to be commissioned next year, and decided it was fitting to link it to the smallest school.