ROYAL Marines stormed ashore as part of a major naval exercise off the Dorset coast.

The Royal Navy’s amphibious warship HMS Albion led the operation which involved a flotilla of smaller ships, tanks, their crews and the marines.

Exercise South West was designed to test the assault ship HMS Albion’s capabilities as the amphibious flagship.

The warship is in her final phase of operational sea training under the direction of Flag Officer Sea Training.

Commander Geoff Wintle, of HMS Albion said: “The ship is in an excellent state and the sailors and Royal Marines will be working closely together over the next two weeks. The ship will be tested as a command and control vessel and the result would be a fully worked-up Fleet amphibious flagship ready for operations anywhere in the world.”