Falkland Islands

HMS Invincible auctioned off to Turkish scrapyard

The Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Invincible has been auctioned off to a Turkish scrapyard which specialises in recycling ships.

In an eBay-style sale by the MoD, Leyal Ship Recycling, based near Izmir, won the bid.

Invincible played a key role in the Falklands war and is expected to be towed from Portsmouth by the end of March.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "After 25 years of service HMS Invincible was decommissioned nearly six years ago and having reached the end of her distinguished career, it is right that we secure a good financial return for the taxpayer.

"The bid from Leyal Ship Recycling does this and also ensures she is disposed of in an environmentally friendly way."

The company has been involved in the scrapping of several Royal Navy ships including the destroyers Cardiff, Newcastle and Glasgow and auxiliary ship RFA Oakleaf.