The last ship built in Aberdeen is returning to Britain for the final time.

For the last 26 years, RMS St Helena has been the only means of access to the remote South Atlantic island.

Since she first set sail a quarter of a century ago, the liner has carried more than 100,000 passengers over 2.4 million nautical miles - the equivalent of 110 trips around the world.

But with the opening of the island's first airport, the St Helena will be retired.

She is expected to arrive in London on Tuesday afternoon for a brief visit before returning to the South Atlantic, where she will eventually be sold.

Her owners had planned to retire the St Helena this month but problems with dangerous wind shear at the new airport mean she will continue to carry passengers until at least September.

Nearly 3000 ships were built in Aberdeen between 1811 and 1989. The industry came to an end in the north east when Hall, Russell and Co shut its doors in 1992.