Falklands veterans David Brown and Stephen Smith have set sail along with scores of former servicemen on the final voyage of the North Sea Ferry ship the Norland.

The the P&O-owned 27,000 tonne vessel left the port of Hull yesterday bound for Zeebrugge for the last time.

It was 20 years ago that Mr Brown, a former paratrooper from Bradford, was among 900 members of the Parachute Regiment who boarded the passenger ferry to go to fight in the Falklands Conflict. On May 21, 1982 - on his 21st birthday - Mr Brown landed at St Carlos Water and went on to fight against the Argentine invaders at Goose Green and Port Stanley.

The 40-year-old, of Springhead Road, Thornton, lost many close friends on the moorlands of the Falkland Islands and he said the trip will evoke some sad memories.

He said: "I shared a cabin on the Norland with one of the lads who didn't come back.

"Mark was killed at Goose Green so it will be quite emotional being back on the ship.

"But it's also going to be a very, very special trip with lots of the original Norland crew on board as well as Falklands veterans."

Mr Smith, 40, of Greengates, also served with 2 Para during the conflict and remembers the cramped living conditions aboard the Norland.

"There literally wasn't room to swing a cat," he said. "It was very cramped. We had all our weapons and equipment with us as well as our civilian clothes.

"On the way out we were optimistic, but nervous. I'd joined the Army in 1979 and this was what I'd trained for.

"On the voyage back it was a mixture of relief and joy that we'd survived. The only thing I felt sorry about was my mates who had died. One very clear memory was that the food ship had been hit just before we left the Falklands, so all we had to eat for a week was peas and rice.

Mr Brown is the Northern secretary of the South Atlantic Medal Association (SAMA 82) which is open to anyone who fought in the conflict and holds a 1982 medal.

He will also be among an official party on the 2002 Pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands in November for a Remembrance Day Parade in Port Stanley. For more details about SAMA 82 call (01274) 416150.