Veteran destroyer HMS Newcastle has left her home port of Portsmouth to join the international campaign against terrorism in the Mediterranean.

The Type 42 warship, launched in April 1975, will spend seven months in the eastern Mediterranean working with NATO nations in Operation Active Endeavour, a multinational initiative to cut off potential supply lines and escape routes for terrorist groups.

Her ship's company will work alongside navies from several nations, including the United States, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the Netherlands, monitoring busy shipping lanes and boarding suspect vessels.

Operation Active Endeavour, sparked by the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, has been under way since October 2001, with the aim of keeping watch for terrorist-related activity, including movements of arms and explosives, as well as terrorists themselves.

The Commanding Officer of HMS Newcastle, Cdr Jeremy Blunden, said: "It will be a long and busy deployment, but we are all looking forward to it.

"It will be interesting working closely with other navies in what is an important international operation."

When operations allow, the ship's company hope to raise money for charities in the ship’s home port and her affiliated namesake city, with which the ship enjoys a close relationship.

Five bikes have been donated by Halfords in Fareham for crew to raise funds through sponsored rides while ashore.