CROWDS lined the streets to cheer along a parade by the crew of HMS Ledbury, which recently ended a tour of duty hunting for mines during the war in Iraq.

The 40-strong crew ended their two-day visit to the Herefordshire market town of Ledbury, yesterday, by marching through the High Street and The Homend.

Led by their captain Lieut-Cdr Peter Olive, they were joined by Ross Sea Scouts, Ledbury Army Cadets, police and firefighters.

The ship is named after Ledbury Hunt, rather than the town and earlier in the day, the crew had been on a walking tour around Ledbury and visited the hunt kennels at Bromsberrow.

There, they met staff and hounds, asked questions and had tea before being shown some of the hunt's horses. They were also presented with a photograph of the hounds and in return presented staff with a picture of the ship.

Donald Haden, spokesman for the hunt, said they had been delighted to welcome the crew.

"They very much enjoyed seeing the hounds and handling them. I was surprised how much some of them knew about hunting," he added.

A previous HMS Ledbury crew visited the kennels three years ago.