A WARSHIP is flying the flag for the region on its way to its latest mission.

County Durham's adopted ship, HMS Bulwark, a 20,000-tonne amphibious assault craft, was presented with a county flag by the county council last month.

And as it sailed past the Rock of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, the flag was proudly flying.

A council spokesman said: "The regulations about what flags can be flown and when on board a Royal Navy ship are very strict.

"But when a ship is refuelling and replenishing alongside a support ship at sea, it has the opportunity to fly an unofficial flag, so we hope they will fly the flag for County Durham whenever possible."

Bulwark and its crew of 380 will spend seven months in the Gulf patrolling trade routes with the Iraqi navy