GLIDING silently through the fog, HMS Ark Royal - the pride of the fleet - came home for the final time this morning.

As the fog began to clear the full majesty of the ship's 23,000-ton bulk was revealed to the hundreds of well-wishers who had gathered to welcome the grey leviathan back to the place where it all began.

The Ark was built on the Tyne 30 years ago, and now the Navy's last aircraft carrier is saying goodbye before she is decommissioned.

The fifth ship to carry the Ark Royal name, the Invincible-class carrier has been scrapped three years early in the name of efficiency.

Ark Royal was the biggest casualty of the defence review - quite literally.

She is the largest warship in the Royal Navy and, although the Sea Harriers that gave her such a powerful punch have already gone, she can still provide air support for British forces anywhere in the world.

As the ship moved on down the Tyne today spectators waved their final goodbyes.

Some had built the giant warship at the Swan Hunter yard.

One man, his eyes filled with tears, stood on the banks and said: "I built her so I couldn't miss saying goodbye. It seems unbelieve that this will be the final time I she her.

"She gave us all such pride. The Ark was a symbol of what we were capable of here in the North-East. It's an appalling mistake to take her out of service."

The decision to cull the Ark Royal three years ahead of time will leave the Navy without a fixed wing aircraft carrier for the rest of the decade.