TOP figures from the British armed forces joined Japanese counterparts in visiting a historic warship built in Barrow.

The HJMS Mikasa was built in Barrow in 1898 and is famous in Japan for helping their troops win the Russo-Japanese war.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace was among those who visited the ship, now making up a display in the city of Yokosuka.

He was joined by chief of air staff Marshal Sir Mike Wigston and first sea lord and chief of naval staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.

They met up with Japanese defence figures onboard the battleships.

The first sea lord said: "Today the defence secretary, chief off air staff

and I met with our Japanese counterparts aboard the battleship HJMS Mikasa

"The Mikasa was built for the Japanese Navy at the world famous Barrow-in-Furness shipyards over a century ago."

Japan credits as saving it from invasion.

The ship is now a tourist attraction and place of pilgrimage.

Named after Mount Mikasa in Japan, the ship was laid down by Vickers at its Barrow shipyard on January 24 1899.

It was launched on November 8 1990 and completed on March 1 1902.

The Mikasa was the flagship in the the Battle of Tsushima on May 27 1905.

In 2018, a former Barrow mayor visited Yokosuka to discuss tourism.

John Murphy presented the city's vice mayor with the original plans for the warship.