A RARE honour was bestowed on a Royal Navy ship beginning its sentimental last visit to the North-East yesterday.

HMS Lindisfarne made history when it became the first Island-class naval warship to pass through the Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne.

The "blinking eye" bridge was specially opened to allow the fishery protection vessel to berth at Newcastle's Quayside.

Lieutenant Commander David Mugridge oversaw the careful manoeuvring as the vessel passed through the channel between the bridge's pontoon supports with about ten metres to spare.

It then came into the Quayside berth previously occupied by the Royal Yacht Britannia on her final voyage shortly before the bridge was constructed.

The crew's five-day shore leave marks the last visit after Lindisfarne's 26-year affiliation with the region, before being decommissioned in January.

It will then begin a new life patrolling the Bay of Bengal, having been sold to the Bangladeshi Navy.

As part of the final visit, the ship's company will exercise their right to parade through Alnwick, Northumberland, for the last time, today.

Elizabeth, Duchess of Northumberland, will take the salute on the farewell parade, while the occasion will be marked by a flypast from a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer.

Three former captains of Lindisfarne have been invited to Alnwick to witness the final parade.

A Northumbrian piper will play the lament when HMS Lindisfarne leaves the Tyne for the last time on Sunday.