THE ship's company of HMS Portland marched through the streets of Weymouth as part of a Freedom Parade.

HMS Portland was exercising her freedom of the borough of Weymouth and Portland, which was awarded in 2009.

The privilege allows the ship's company to march through the borough on all ceremonial occasions, with drums beating and colours flying.

A service was conducted at the Cenotaph by Father Richard Harper, the Mayor's Chaplain.

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Cllr Christine James, addressed the crowds, accompanied by Mayor of Portland, Cllr Rod Wild.

She said: "It is a great honour and privilege to welcome the HMS Portland and her company to exercise their right to the Freedom of the Borough.

"I am proud of the special relationship we continue to have with HMS Portland and the Royal Navy."

The HMS Portland was commissioned in 2001 and is about to embark on a nine month deployment on operations overseas.

Dozens of Weymouth residents lined the streets on the Esplanade in order to honour the work of the Royal Navy and its connection to the borough.

They applauded as the ship's company marched on towards the Pavilion.

A former naval officer watching the ceremony said: "It is a very important day for the ship.

"These days, there are not very many ships so we are very lucky to have one.

"It is nice to see them all lined up and doing their stuff and it's nice they made the time to come here and say goodbye."

Alan Donaldson, who is a regular visitor to Weymouth, said: "It is very enjoyable to see the navy receiving the appropriate recognition.

"It is important to support them, particularly as this is a traditional naval town and it is important to keep that support."

HMS Portland is a Type 23 frigate and attained the fastest speed of any ship of its kind when it took part in sea trials.

It is the eighth ship to bear the name and was named for the now extinct Dukedom of Portland.

HMS Portland took part in the seizure of cocaine in the Caribbean in 2007 and provided disaster relief in Belize following Hurricane Dean.

The ship's company last exercised the freedom of the borough in 2013.