Falmouth’s new mayor John Body and his wife Linda welcomed the commanding officer of HMS Severn to the Mayor’s Parlour recently.

Lieutenant Commander Steven Banfield was accompanied by Falmouth’s deputy Royal Naval liaison officer, Sub Lt Phil Reid, when he accepted the mayor’s hospitality.

HMS Severn, a river class offshore patrol vessel, has been undergoing routine maintenance at A&P Falmouth. She was due to join her core tasking this week before relocating to the North Sea to conduct a joint operation with the Dutch marine enforcement authorities.

Mr Body said: “I was honoured to be able to host an evening reception in the council offices for Lt Commander Banfield to officially welcome the HMS Severn to Falmouth.”