A party from Led-bury will be present when the Queen reviews the Fleet at Spithead on Tuesday, June 28.

Because of the town's close links with HMS Ledbury in recent years, guests of honour will include Ledbury mayor Mary Cooper, former mayor Keith Francis, Ledbury Hunt spokesman Donald Haden and the former chairman of the Ledbury Independent Traders' Association, Len Huff.

Coun Cooper said: "I am totally delighted to be asked to go to the Fleet Review and I am sure I speak for us all when I say it is a great honour, as well as being quite exciting."

The contingent will be guests on board the Hunt class mine-countermeasures ship HMS Ledbury and Coun Cooper will offer greetings to Lieutenant Commander Robert Wilson, on behalf of the town.

The Fleet Review is part of the national celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Ships of the Royal Navy and French and Spanish navies, as well as foreign and Commonwealth vessels, will all take part.

In total, there will be 160 vessels involved from 35 nations.

More than 50 chiefs of naval staff will be present for one of the most spectacular maritime events in recent years.

The Queen will review the fleet on board HMS Endurance and HMS Chatham will fire a 21-gun salute.

The Navy will come to Ledbury on Thursday, July 28, when a crew from HMS Ledbury will jog into town to complete a three-day sponsored run, all the way from Portsmouth.

This will be on behalf of the Ledbury CVA mini-bus appeal, which is Coun Cooper's mayoral charity for her year of office.