THE last surviving D-Day vessel to have served at Omaha Beach has been adopted by Borough of Poole.

HMS Medusa sailed into port to take part in WWI commemorations over the weekend, in the town in which she was built.

The former Royal Navy coastal defence boat took part in the Second World War as a convoy escort, marking approach channels through minefields on D-Day.

Mayor of Poole Cllr Peter Adams presented Alan Watson, captain of the vessel now owned by the Medusa Trust, with a scroll in honour of the special relationship.

At a ceremony he received a pennant to hang in the Civic Centre.

Cllr Adams said: “As we reflect on the sacrifice made by so many during the First World War, we felt it was important to recognise the role HMS Medusa played in World War II.

“We are extremely proud of HMS Medusa’s links with Poole and she is held in the highest regard and affection by our residents. We look forward to welcoming HMS Medusa back to her home town as soon as possible.”

The crew joined the mayor, servicemen, ex-servicemen and uniform groups in a civic parade from St James Church to the Guild-hall on Sunday, commemorating the outbreak of the First World War.

Captain Watson said: “It is always a pleasure to bring Medusa back to her birthplace, but this time is special.

“Medusa is the last of her class in original and seaworthy condition and the last of 56 small warships built in Poole in World War Two.

“We are delighted that the ship and crews, past and present, are being honoured by the town.”

She was built at RA Newman and Sons in Poole and launched in October 1943. After the war she became a survey vessel for the RN Hydrographic Office, was sold by the Admiralty in 1968 and bought and operated by the group from Portland.