The crippled warship HMS Nottingham is preparing to be moved into deeper waters in readiness for its return to the UK.

The �300m ship tore open its hull on rocks off Australia's east coast in July and on Tuesday, accompanied by a playful whale, it was towed into Sydney harbour.

With one tugboat pulling the destroyer stern-first and a second steadying its damaged bow, the ship was brought up to a navy fuel jetty in Sydney's Chowder Bay.

Two tug boats tow Nottingham stern-first into Sydney Harbour

The Nottingham hit a well-charted rock during manoeuvres near Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea on 7 July.

It nearly sank with 250 crew aboard after water flooded five of its compartments.

After arriving in Chowder Bay, it was later towed to the port of Newcastle, north of Sydney, where its ammunition was offloaded and structural repairs carried out prior to its return home for full repairs.

The Nottingham will be placed on a giant "heavy-lift" salvage vessel early next week for the trip back to the UK.

Journey's end

A Dutch company has won the contract to take the 3,500-tonne, Type 42 destroyer back on one of its heavy lift ships.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said Nottingham's journey was expected to begin on 25 October and end on 12 December.

A playful Southern Right whale and what was believed to be her calf welcomed the Nottingham to Sydney, swimming alongside the ship as it was towed to dock.