THE captain and some of the crew from a Royal Navy frigate will strengthen their link with a North Yorkshire market town next week.

HMS Richmond is berthed at Portsmouth after her latest tour of duty, which took her to the Gulf.

Commander Wayne Keble and four crew members will fly north by helicopter, on Monday, for a civic reception in the town which shares their ship's name.

The mayor, Councillor Stuart Parsons, and town councillors will host the visit.

One of the events will be a golf tournament, on Tuesday, against members of the town's two guilds, the Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers and the Fellmongers.

HMS Richmond is due to berth at Newcastle in November, when crew members will visit Richmond to take part in the town's remembrance day parade.

It is also hoped that the ship will field a rugby team to play a Richmond side in a game organised by Councillor Russell Lord.