The Birkenhead-built frigate HMS Campbeltown will visit Liverpool this week as part of her final curtain call after 22 years’ service to the Royal Navy across the globe.

The warship will open her gangway to members of the public for the last time on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.

On Sunday, the ship will play host to various groups before bidding Merseyside goodbye for the final time as she leaves the cruise liner terminal on Monday at around 11am.

Members of Sea Cadet units across the north west will have the opportunity to show off their skills on Saturday morning from 11am to noon, when they hold a capability demonstration. Units involved include Skelmersdale, Wigan, Bury and Radcliffe, and Wallasey Sea Scouts.

The ship’s visit marks the start of key decommissioning activities including her final entry into Plymouth on March 31 and an official decommissioning ceremony on Thursday, April 7.

Cammell Laird Shipbuilders launched Campbeltown on October 7, 1987 and she entered service on May 27 1989.

The visit is an opportunity to say farewell to those who were involved in her build, and to the wider community on the Mersey who share in the area’s rich maritime heritage.

News of HMS Campbeltown’s decommissioning came in October last year, as she was preparing to deploy for counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.

The ship has spent the ensuing months training a host of future pilots, navigators, submariners, warfare officers and officer cadets from Britannia Royal Naval College, while contributing to the security of our home waters.

Commanding Officer Commander Keri Harris, said: “In the past months, we have been able to operate at sea with a tangible output; training the many specialists who encompass the Navy’s wide operational remit.

“Now we are faced with the reality of decommissioning a fine warship and disbanding her close-knit crew; which was never going to be easy.

“Returning to the Mersey is, in a sense, the beginning of a celebration of Campbeltown’s many achievements and we are thoroughly grateful for the opportunity to share it with the local community – not least by opening the ship to visitors."

Originally designed as a specialist anti-submarine ship, the Type 22 frigates have evolved into a powerful surface combatant with substantial anti surface, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft weapons systems.

On patrol they have an efficient cruising speed of 18 knots, but have a sprint capability of over 30 knots.

HMS Campbeltown is the third of the Type 22 frigates and the second Royal Navy warship to bear the name.

The name of HMS Campbeltown has a distinguished record of Royal Navy service, with honours for the Battle of the Atlantic 1941-1942 and St Nazaire 1942, often referred to as "the greatest raid of all" as it had the largest number of Victoria Cross medals awarded for a single operation.

Campbeltown’s last official duty will be to visit St Nazaire and commemorate the 69th anniversary of this remarkable operation with some of the few remaining veterans from 1942.