TRAFALGAR-class submarine HMS Talent has hosted a visit by the Mayor of Shrewsbury and Atcham.

Cllr George Ritchey and his wife Mary called in on Talent while the boat was alongside during a maintenance period in Devonport Naval Base.

The submarine has affiliation links to Shrewsbury and Atcham, in Shropshire.

The weekend visit to the West Country for former Lt Col Ritchey also gave him the opportunity to visit 20 Commando Royal Artillery at The Citadel in Plymouth.

Cdr Paul Nixon, Commanding Officer of Talent, said: “As we approach a lengthy docking period we felt it important to enhance our strong links with the council and people of Shrewsbury and Atcham.”

Cllr Ritchey said: “The visit to HMS Talent has most certainly been one of the highlights of my time in office.

“The personnel that we met have displayed the high levels of professionalism that has come to be expected of such a prestigious Service.”

HMS Talent was commissioned in May 1990, the sixth of the seven-strong Trafalgar class of nuclear-powered hunter-killer submarines.

She was designed to pick out, stalk and destroy enemy submarines, but her capabilities are such that she and her sisters can undertake a wide range of tasks.

She displaces more than 5,000 tons when dived.