A COMMUNITY is preparing for a visit from a Royal Navy vessel which has long-standing links with their village.

Residents of Hurworth, near Darlington, will host a reception for the captain and crew of HMS Hurworth, a Royal Navy mine sweeper which has links with the village, the primary school, Rockliffe Court and Hurworth Hunt.

The reception marks the ship coming to port in Hartlepool later this week.

The event, which takes place on Saturday, at Hurworth Grange, from 2pm to 4pm, has been organised by Hurworth Parish Council on behalf of the village.

Light refreshments will be available and the event is free and open to the community.

Last year(08), the Hunt-class minehunter spent four-and-a-half months working with a Nato task force with ships from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland and Norway, helping to clear thousands of mines still left over from the two world wars.

Ian Holme, chairman of Hurworth Parish Council, said: "We are delighted and proud to welcome the captain and crew of HMS Hurworth to Hurworth this weekend.

“The link between the ship and community is a tradition that is very important to us all, especially at a time when our armed forces are playing such a vital role throughout the world.

“This reception is intended to further these links by offering the community the opportunity to meet the captain and crew in an informal environment at the Grange. All are welcome."