A DELEGATION from the town has been briefed on the £20 million refit of HMS Ledbury, which could considerably extend the ship's active life.

The seven-strong party, led by mayor Keith Francis, visited Portsmouth on Thursday, where the ship's crew is based while the vessel is refitted at Rosyth in Scotland.

During the visit, Coun Francis was asked to present long service and good conduct medals to Chief Petty Officer Andrew "Taff" Price and Leading Seamen Sid Weatherall.

Coun Francis said: "It was a very good day and further cements the good relations with the ship, which we are building."

Coun Francis was told that a great deal of modern equipment was being installed in the operations room of the ship, a mine counter-measures vessel. Enhancements are also being made to HMS Ledbury's sonar capabilities.

The refit follows HMS Ledbury's active service in the Gulf, where it was called upon to clear mines from the strategically important seaway to the port of Umm Qasr.

The refitted minesweeper will undergo sea trials in April and, if all goes well, it will be recommissioned in June at Portsmouth.

The party from Ledbury Town Council was given a tour of HMS Ledbury's land-based offices and then enjoyed a meal in the officers' mess of the Old Naval Academy. Councillors also toured the historic naval dockyards. Last year, the crew of the ship visited Ledbury.

A group of 14 sailors from the ship, including Lieutenant Commander Peter Olive, will set off from Portsmouth on February 10 for a sponsored charity cycle ride to Ledbury. They are due to arrive two days later.

Coun Francis plans to cycle up from Gloucester with them. On the way, the group will make a goodwill stop at the kennels of the Ledbury Hunt, at Egg Tump. The vessel is named not after the town, but the hunt, as it is a Hunt class ship.