Wirral Metropolitan College catering students will play a key role in the homecoming celebrations aboard HMS Liverpool when they prepare the food for a VIP lunch aboard the destroyer on day one of her visit to the city.

The students will prepare a six-course meal for civic and navy top brass using galley facilties aboard the warship.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: "The students are really looking forward to it. They see it as a big challenge."

Their involvement came about through college principal Mike Potter's connection with the Royal Navy.

He was a former naval commodore and has close links with naval command.

HMS Liverpool arrives alongside at the cruise liner terminal on Thursday morning. It will be her first major visit to Liverpool for three years.

The public can watch the pomp and ceremony of Beat the Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset, performed by the Royal Marines Band Scotland on Thursday evening.

The ship's company is looking forward to welcoming members of the public on board over the weekend - noon to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Commanding Officer Commander Colin Willimas will lead his crew through the streets of Liverpool when they exercise their Freedom of the City by marching with bayonets fixed, colours flying and drums beating.

Later the crew will be hosted at a civic reception by the city's Lord Mayor Cllr Hazel Williams.

Commander Williams said: "I am very proud to be bringing HMS Liverpool to her spiritual home on the Mersey.

"I know that everyone is looking forward not only to welcoming visitors on board, but also enjoying the warm hospitality which we always receive in Liverpool."

Cllr Williams said: "HMS Liverpool has been a proud symbol of our city all over the word and it is fantastic we can can take this opportunity to thank the shuip and her crew for the essential work they do."

In April the destroyer will take part with the ships of other nations and the Royal Navy in a Mediterranean operation to exercise the UK's naval capability.

HMS Liverpool will return to the city in the early part of next year prior to decommissioning.

The destroyer is the tenth of the Type 42 class vessels and the seventh shuip to bear the name.

She was built by Cammell Laird and was launched in September 1980 by Lady Strathcona, wife of the then Minister of State for Defence.