GEORDIE gunboat HMS Newcastle has been one of the big crowd-pullers at this year's Southampton Boat Show, with thousands of visitors climbing aboard.

It's the first time the Royal Navy's longest serving Type 42 Air Defence destroyer has sailed into the show - and it gives visitors a rare chance to explore the 125-metre long ship themselves.

Lt Commander Ian Mills, the weapons engineer officer, said: "People are amazed by the space on board - or the lack of it. You can hit your head and bang shins. This is a battleship, and it's built like that.

"People are also surprised that we have females on board. We have two women officers and people always like to talk to them and ask questions.

"Normally you can only walk on the upper deck - it's unusual for visitors to have pretty much a free rein.

He added: "There hasn't been a Royal Navy ship at the show for some years, so this is quite special. We are about to be decommissioned next year, on March 31, so this is almost like our final goodbye."

In the first Boat Show weekend, more than 4,000 visitors climbed aboard to get a flavour life at sea as part of a 280-strong crew.

Launched in 1975, HMS Newcastle is armed with a Sea Dart surface-to-air missile system, a 114mm gun and anti-submarine torpedoes.

It even carries a Lynx helicopter on major drugs busts and secret fact-finding operations.

On Monday it sails for hometown Newcastle but there's still one last chance to step aboard the Navy ship at the Boat Show tomorrow.

Tickets are available on the door. Southampton pensioners with a postcode between SO14 and SO19 get in free with proof of age and address, and other city residents are eligible for a £2 discount with proof of address.

Show sales down by 25% - See our Sail Solent website at: www.sailsolent.co.uk or click the Sailing link in the SPORT section of 'This is Southampton'.