The Royal Navy's newest warship will be commissioned in Sussex next year.

HMS Shoreham, a Sandown Class minehunter, will officially enter service after a ceremony at Shoreham Harbour on July 20.

The event will be held as part of the harbour's annual open day organised by Shoreham Port Authority.

HMS Shoreham was built in Southampton by Vosper Thorneycroft and launched earlier this year.

Since then, the ship has been fitted out and its crew trained. It is now being prepared to become an operational part of the fleet.

Adur District Council chairman Don Phillips and chief executive Ian Lowrie have been talking to the Navy about building a link between Shoreham and the ship which bears its name.

Councillor Phillips said: "Holding the commissioning of HMS Shoreham will be a unique opportunity to promote the district and its maritime connections.

"The Royal Marine band will play, the ship's company will march past and the harbour's open day will make it a memorable day.

"Such a grand event and future visits of the ship to Shoreham will raise the prestige of the district and encourage tourism."

Philip Rood, of Vosper Thorneycroft, said: "HMS Shoreham is the last of 12 ships in the class built by us over 14 years.

"She has achieved the rare distinction of being handed over with no defects, reflecting the highest possible quality in a new vessel."

The minehunter is constructed of glass-reinforced plastic and carries remote-controlled submersibles which are used to hunt down and destroy the most sophisticated mines in deep waters.

The ship is one of the most modern and capable mine counter-measures vessels in service in the world.

Minister for Defence Procurement Baroness Symons said: "HMS Shoreham will be a powerful addition to the Royal Navy's mine warfare forces when she joins the fleet next year.

"She and her sister ships are widely recognised as among the very best of their kind in the world."