A whole range of tests on the ship will be carried out

HMS Bulwark, built at BAE Systems, is due to leave the town at the end of the month ahead of schedule.

She will sail on sea trials and then go straight off to join HMS Albion in naval service.

The workers' families were being given the traditional tour of the ship on Saturday.

HMS Bulwark is the second of two landing assault ships built in Barrow for the Royal Navy.

With a submarine only policy now, she could be the last ship to be built in Barrow.

HMS Bulwark and the vessel's sister ship HMS Albion, were replacements for the decommissioned HMS Intrepid and HMS Fearless, which have seen service in the Gulf.