AS the HMS Dragon destroyer arrives in Cardiff, Barry police are gearing up to take on the ship's football team in a charity match.

The HMS dragon is one of six Type 45 destroyers in the Royal Navy’s fleet, which are the most advanced warships the UK has ever built.

It arrived in Cardiff on Wednesday, May 14 for five days where it will receive the Freedom of the City of Cardiff, on Sunday, May 18.

A formal conferral ceremony will take place outside City Hall at 11am before the ship’s company parade through the streets of the capital.

Before Sunday’s events the ship’s football team is to take the field against a team made up of police officers from Barry.

The teams will line up against each other on the Colcot sports grounds, kicking off at 10.30am on Saturday morning (May 17) and are hoping to welcome supporters from Barry and beyond to cheer both sides on.

Detective Sergeant Michael George from Barry police station said: “We are delighted to welcome the team from HMS Dragon to Barry, a town with a great seafaring tradition and I hope that lots of people will be able to come along and support both teams.

“I am sure we will be put through our paces with the average age of the ship’s team being some 20 years younger than our own. I hope experience will tell at the final whistle.

“We will be supporting the Watts Foundation, a charity chosen by the ship’s crew and we are also grateful to the management of The Wenvoe Arms who have given their support to the event.”