A MODEL of a warship adopted by the people in three West Wiltshire towns has gone on show in Trowbridge

HMS Avon Vale was a type two Hunt class destroyer, built in Clydebank just before the outbreak of war in 1939. After a successful Warship Week National Savings Campaign in February 1942 the ship was adopted by the people of Trowbridge, Bradford and Melksham, as it was named after the area's Avon Vale hunt.

The first and so far the only Royal Navy warship to carry the name had an extremely busy war, with battle honours in the Atlantic, the Malta Convoys the Adriatic, North Africa and Libya.

The 1,600 ton ship with a crew of 169 carried six four-inch-high angle guns, bow chaser guns and depth charges.

During a conflict in 1943 she was damaged by Italian torpedo bombers off Bougie and towed to Gibraltar, where she was repaired and returned to Chatham for a refit.

Returning to active duty HMS Avon Vale took part in the D-Day landings, escorting convoys. She was placed in the reserve fleet in December 1945 and scrapped in 1958 in Sunderland

The model was spotted by a naval enthusiast from the White Ensign Association and bought with a grant from Trowbridge Area board. The 1-48th scale model is touring the district on display and is currently in the reception area of the Trowbridge Information Centre at The Civic.