The Royal Navy's first submarine, the Holland One, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The submarine only went on public display in November 2000 after a �1m restoration programme.

It had been salvaged from waters off the Eddystone Lighthouse near Plymouth where it sank while under tow following the end of its active service life in 1913.

Holland One was designed by the Irish American John Phillip Holland and launched on 2 October, 1902.

Historic ship

Originally an experimental craft, conditions on board were primitive with mice used to warn submariners of dangerous exhaust gases.

Holland One was eventually sold for scrap but after it sank, salvage experts organised an operation in 1982 to bring it up from the sea bed.

It was then taken to Devonport dockyard for restoration work.

This process was completed under the sponsorship of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum at Gosport, Hampshire.

Its director, Commander Jeff Tall said: "It is fitting that the submarine has gone back on display just a few hundred yards from where she first saw service with the Royal Navy.

"We have come a long way since those pioneering days when you think of the power and complexity of a modern submarine and compare it with the Holland One."

In November 2000 Holland One was nominated as one of the country's historic ships joining the likes of Nelson's flagship HMS Victory.