ROYAL Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth set sail from Loch Long over the weekend after spending almost a week alongside at Glen Mallan.

The £3 billion ship left the area on Saturday having arrived at the munitions jetty on Monday morning, March 15 to load up on stores ahead of her first operational deployment.

Police Scotland's air unit watched on from above as the 65,000-tonne vessel was escorted out of Loch Long by Ministry of Defence police.

Keen-eyed photographers from Helensburgh and beyond headed to the shores of Loch Long during the ship's stay to catch a glimpse of the Royal Navy’s flagship as it visited the area for the first time.

But those who stopped on the A814 near the jetty to take pictures were quickly moved on by police.

Helensburgh Advertiser: HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Loch LongHMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Loch Long

Prior to the ship’s arrival in the area, Police Scotland also issued a warning against the flying of drones and aircraft in the vicinity of the ship during its visit, “due to operational security”.

A cordon of three nautical miles and 6,000 feet was put in place around the vessel during its visit.

The flying of drones in the area is already banned above HM Naval Base Clyde, the dockyard port of Gareloch and Loch Long, and other military land in the local area, unless prior permission has been obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority.

The ship is due to sail for Portsmouth at the end of the month, and will deploy to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and East Asia later this year, as part of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group.