HMS Monmouth will arrive in South Wales this week for a return visit to the area for the first time in three years.

The ship will dock in Cardiff on Friday (March 18) when the ship will be open to the public for tours.

On Sunday the crew will march through the centre of Monmouth to mark the close links of the ship to her namesake town.

The type 42 frigate will berth alongside Britannia Quay in Cardiff from Friday afternoon and people will be able to tour the ship on Saturday between 10am and 2pm.

Visitors are advised to wear comfortable casual clothes and sturdy shoes to see and hear at first hand what life is like at sea in a Royal Navy warship.

HMS Monmouth was given the freedom of the town of Monmouth in 2004 and on Sunday the crew will be exercising this ceremonial right by parading through the town in the traditional style, bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying.

Starting at 2.30pm, the crew will march along Cinderhall Street, Monnow Street and up Castle Hill before being inspected by local dignitaries.

This month saw the 350th anniversary of the use of the name Monmouth in the Royal Navy.

The first Monmouth was an eight-gun yacht commissioned on March 5 1666 under the command of Captain Nicholas Hill.

The ship leaves Cardiff on Thursday (March 24) to return to her base port of Plymouth to conduct routine maintenance ahead of intensive operational training in the summer.