HMS Ark Royal was anchored in Weymouth Bay for tests after a £12million refit.

The aircraft carrier spent the weekend off the Dorset coast before three weeks of sea trials.

The warship has just undergone a six-month ‘green’ revamp at Portsmouth and will return to her position as main strike carrier and flagship of the fleet after the trials.

Commander Rob Bellfield, 44, returned on the Ark Royal as second in command, after living at Halstock in north Dorset and commanding HMS Portland.

He said: “It was good to be anchored in Weymouth Bay.

“I used to live at Halstock and spent a lot of my early career at Portland naval base and knew it well.

“We have been anchored just off the breakwaters.

“I have been talking to the some of the younger members of the ship’s company about the base and the breakwaters.”

The crew of the Ark Royal held tests as the warship moved around the bay and anchored during the day, and moved out to sea at night.

Tests included flying trials with a Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and a Lynx from Yeovilton, and firefighting training.

Cdr Bellfield, who now lives in Hampshire, was in charge of HMS Portland three years ago.

Cdr Bellfield said: “I had a fantastic time on HMS Portland.

“HMS Portland was a great ship and I left with a lot of sadness.

“It is nice to be back at sea again, on the Ark Royal.”

He added that the Ark Royal was acquitting herself very well in the trials.

After her trials, the 20,000 tonne warship will be ready to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice as the fleet’s main strike carrier and quick reaction force.

She will be in the Channel and south west over the next three weeks, and may return to the Dorset coast. The crew includes 39 cadets and Commonwealth sailors.