VIEWERS on the banks of the Severn this week will have been treated to the sight of five superb tall ships on their way to Gloucester via Sharpness.

The hugely popular Tall Ships Festival, which last took place in 2009 and attracted more than 75,000 visitors, will be back this coming weekend, with the visiting ships due to sail into the main basin from 1pm on Friday (August 26), before opening to the public from 10am on both Saturday and Sunday.

The five beautiful ships are the Phoenix (a two masted, square sailed brig who was the starring vessel in Ridley Scott's film '1492: Conquest Of Paradise'), the Kathleen & May (a hundred year old three masted schooner, which was due to lock in at Sharpness at around 3pm on Wednesday's high tide this week), the Irene (a two masted Ketch which has doubled up as the Flying Dutchman on the big screen), the Johanna Lucretia (a topsail schooner who was extensively refitted at Gloucester's own Tommy Neilson's Yard in the early 1990) and the White Heather (a two masted Cornish lugger, one of only a handful still sailing).

In addition, Gloucester's own resident vessel of historic significance, the Sula Lightship, will be open to the public and offering talks and tours, and 80 year old lifeboat The Always Ready will moor in the historic docks (she was restored extensively at Sharpness).

Entry to the festival site is free.