HMS LEDBURY has been on exercise with other Nato ships off the coast of Albania.

The Hunt class minesweeper recently called into the Alanian port of Vlore, together with an Italian and Turiksh naval vessel.

The task group crews spent three days liaising with Albanian colleagues in preparation for several exercises they had planned together.

The ship also hosted a visit was from Nicholas Cannon OBE, the British ambassador to Albania.

On departure from the port the NATO task group sailed in the company of two Albanian Navy ships, the Oriku and the Archange, and manoueuvres in the Bay of Vlore were actually led by HMS Ledbury.

Commanding Officer of HMS Ledbury Lt Cdr Justin Hains, said: “I am very proud to have taken part in these exercises. The Albanian Navy and the City of Vlore have made us feel very welcome.

“I was delighted to see the high professional standards set by all of the ships involved.

This was a great opportunity for our nations to practise working together at sea.”

HMS Ledbury is the British component of the standing NATO mine countermeasures group 2, and she has joined other mine countermeasures vessels from a variety of NATO nations for approximately three months.

The NATO task group contributes to maritime security as part of Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean Sea, in addition to practising its core role of detecting mines.

The crew of HMS Ledbury enjoys the freedom of the town, and there have been regular official visits to Ledbury by the crew.