The government’s Disposal Services Authority will, in the next few months, decide the final fate of HMS Cornwall, the county’s former adopted warship.

The DSA is inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the Type 22 frigates HMS Chatham, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Cumberland and HMS Cornwall.

The decommissioned ships can be sold for further use, sunk as artificial reefs or go for recycling. It is the DSA’s intention to award at least one vessel to a UK ship recycler.

The vessels are moored at Portsmouth and will be sold from there.

What a shame funds cannot be raised to make HMS Cornwall environmentally safe in order to sink her in the Manacles to be a diving site.

HMS Cornwall’s first commanding officer was Captain Christopher Wreford-Brown, who sank the Argentine cruiser Belgrano whilst in command of the submarine HMS Conqueror.

HMS Cornwall was commissioned at Falmouth Docks by the ship’s sponsor Diana, Princess of Wales in 1988.