The 600-tonne Sandown Class Mine Hunter arrives alongside Dunn Cow Quay in Blyth for the start of a four-day visit.

After an absence of nearly four years, HMS Blyth's return heralds some exciting activities starting with the ship picking up some students from North Shields early on the Friday morning for a short taste of life at sea.

With an expected arrival time in Blyth at 10am, the ship's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Des Donworth, will be making an official call on the chairman of Northumberland County Council, David Woodard, and the Mayor of Blyth, Coun Ian Tompkins in Morpeth.

"I am very pleased to welcome what we see as our ship back to her home town", said Chairman Woodard.

"I am certainly looking forward to visiting the ship on Friday evening for the ship's official reception".

The weekend's big event will see HMS Blyth throw down her gangway to welcome the general public from 10am until 4pm.

The Royal Navy ship will be joined by one of 203 Battery's MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) vehicles plus other attractions, including a Royal Marines weapons trailer.

While the ship's company will be renewing old acquaintances with Blyth Spartans FC over the weekend, it is a soccer match against Northumbria Police on Monday evening that the ship's team are training for.

With more visits planned for Tuesday morning, the ship will sail from Blyth at 1pm, returning to sea-trials, operational training and maritime security patrols in preparation for a NATO deployment in the New Year.

Lieutenant Commander Des Donworth said: "We are very much looking forward to spending time in Blyth.

"It has been a long time since the ship was able to make a visit to her hometown and this stop will hopefully give us a chance to re-affirm some long standing ties to the area.

"It will also give us a chance to thank all the people and organisations that sent us messages of good will whilst we were operating in the Gulf; these were especially welcome over the Christmas period.

"The ship will be open on Saturday and I hope as many people as possible will come and see their ship, meet her crew and our good friends from Elswick Battery."

Mine countermeasures vessel HMS Blyth is 52m long, with a beam of 10m and is newly equipped with the world-beating SEAFOX underwater surveillance system. She carries two remote controlled submersibles and a team of clearance divers whose job it is to dispose of mines that can not be destroyed remotely.

With a top speed of 13 knots, Blyth is a highly manoeuvrable vessel, and her 30mm gun and three general purpose machine guns means that she can also be used as a formidable patrol craft as seen in the Persian Gulf last year.

HMS Blyth usually carries a crew of 34, but can accommodate up to 40 people if necessary.