Hampshire Flag Company helps celebrate HMS Liverpool return

The Hampshire Flag Company has lent a helping-hand to the residents of Portsmouth to celebrate the return of HMS Liverpool from a seven month stint off Libya's coast.

The Waterlooville-based business donated a 20m long banner, 200m of Union Jack bunting and 100 hand-waving flags to commemorate the event.

The Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer sailed into its Portsmouth base on Monday 7 November to the sight of the banner, printed on the company's DuPont Chromaprint machine, which read 'Welcome home HMS Liverpool’.

Graham Wilkinson, managing director of Hampshire Flag, said: "HMS Liverpool is part of our city’s naval heritage and it is wonderful to see it return from such an important mission and receive the warm welcome it deserves.

"We were delighted to play our part in marking the safe return of HMS Liverpool and it was fantastic to see our hand waving flags, bunting and the banner add impact and atmosphere to the occasion."