A huge section of the hull of the first of the next generation of Royal Navy aircraft carriers has begun its first journey by sea to be assembled at a Scottish shipyard.
The 6000-tonne forward section of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been built by BAE Systems at Portsmouth.
It has been loaded on to a large sea-going barge and was yesterday towed from the company's facility at the Hampshire naval base to begin its four-day voyage to Rosyth, where it will be assembled.
As the new hull segment was towed out at the Navy base, it passed the axed carrier and former fleet flagship, HMS Ark Royal, as well as HMS Illustrious, the navy's last aircraft carrier which was converted into a helicopter carrier.
To celebrate the departure of the block, a team of 50 cyclists from across the Aircraft Carrier Alliance will set off on a fundraising cycle ride on Friday from Portsmouth to Rosyth.
The team is hoping to complete the 500 miles before the hull section of the carrier arrives, as well as raising more than £35,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
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