The crew of Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond will be granted Freedom of Entry to Coventry later this week.

The ships Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander, Alexander Meyer, and the rest of her company will be handed the honour at a presentation ceremony on Thursday.

After parading from Gosford Street at 10.30am to the council house, the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Coun Hazel Noonan, will inspect the guard along with special guest, Commander Andy Ingham, who is a former Commander of HMS Diamond.

The deputy leader of the council, Coun Phil Townshend, will then read the Deed of Privilege to the ships company and present the Freedom Scroll to Commander Ingham.

The ships company will march through the city and will parade to Coventry Cathedral, preceded by the Band of the Royal Logistics Corps.

They will then receive a blessing from The Very Reverend John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry Cathedral, at the cathedral steps.

The parade will then proceed down Priory Street, Fairfax Street, Trinity Street and into Broadgate where the Lord Mayor and the official party will receive a salute from the ships company.

Lt Cdr Alexander Meyer said: It is a huge honour for HMS Diamond to be awarded the Freedom of the City of Coventry.

I know all of the ships company are especially proud of our many links to the city and are very much looking forward to visiting a number of our affiliated organisations.

Coventry was last associated with a Royal Navy ship in 1988, when HMS Coventry was granted Freedom of the City.

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Freedom of Coventry for HMS Diamond