A FLOTILLA of Tall Ships will glide from the mouth of the River Tyne this morning as they bid farewell to the North-East.

An estimated one million visitors have flocked to the Newcastle-Gateshead quaysides to see the stunning ships since they arrived last weekend.

People clambered aboard the foreign vessels, met the crews and made the most of the carnival atmosphere on Tyneside.

Last night, the celebration of hosting the Tall Ships Race was rounded off with an impressive fireworks display.

Yesterday lunchtime, a schoolgirl from County Durham welcomed a royal visitor to one of the biggest events to be held in the region.

Seven-year-old Megan Robinson, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, handed Princess Anne a bouquet.

The Princess Royal attended a reception hosted by the Nautical Institute North-East Branch, of which she is an Honorary Fellow.

Shotley Bridge Junior School pupil Megan said: "I have been practising curtseys all week but she started talking to me and interrupted it.

"She asked me my name, whether I have been on any of the ships and whether I would like to sail them when I am older. I said: 'Yes, sort of.'

"I am proud that I gave the princess some flowers. I have had to keep it a secret for two weeks so now I am very excited about telling my friends."

Before receiving her bouquet, Princess Anne visited the crew of the Duet and the TS Royalist. She also met and chatted to about 90 Scouts and Sea Scouts from the North-East, taking part in the Tall Ships Race to Norway.

Thousands of people on the Gateshead quayside were screened off from glimpsing the royal guest and police stopped visitors approaching as part of a security operation.

Megan was asked to make the presentation by her uncle, Captain Steve Nicholls, from Stanley, who is the project manager of institute's Tall Ships Project.

He said: "I have been working on this for 18 months and it has really taken over so when I saw it all come together like that it was very emotional.

"This has been a fantastic thing to be involved in. Some people who have been on board had never even seen a ship before but now the sea is in their blood."