THE Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Illustrious bade farewell to the Mersey with a terrific send-off.

Around 4,000 people lined the waterfront from Liverpool Pier Head to Crosby beach to watch the national strike carrier leave for Portsmouth yesterday.

Lt Com Tony Wyld, of Royal Navy HQ Merseyside, said: “This was one of the most successful Royal Naval visits ever.

“This shows what a difference the Cruise Terminal makes.”

HMS Illustrious was the centrepiece of Fly Navy 100 which was the great northern celebration marking the Royal Navy centenary of aviation and the Fleet Air Arm, and it is estimated that 85,000 people visited some element of the event.

A static park of helicopters on the Pier Head attracted 50,000.

Around 11,000 people took the chance to go onboard HMS Illustrious on her Sunday and Monday open days.

There was an audience of 650 members of the public onboard for a Royal Marines band charity concert in the carrier’s hangar.

Liverpool is the only UK port which hosts concerts onboard warships and it was the fourth such event.