A WARSHIP based in the Westcountry is set to sail for the lawless waters off East Africa to fight the growing threat of piracy.

HMS Northumberland is ready to lead an international taskforce to the Gulf of Aden, off Somalia, where increasing numbers of ships are being attacked and stolen, along with their contents.

The Government has offered to send the Devonport-based Type 23 frigate to lead the European Union force to secure the safety of ships travelling to and from the strategically important Suez Canal and the Far and Middle East.

There are currently ships patrolling the Gulf of Aden area, but they are on general deployment and not there specifically to tackle pirates.

There are fears that if more tankers are taken by Somali pirates, it could push up the cost of oil because companies will send ships on the safer but longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said yesterday: "The fear is that it adds so many more miles that the price of fuel rises. Potentially it has a direct impact on the wider world."

The threat from pirates has been steadily growing in the area in recent months. Operating in high-powered speedboats from ports in lawless Somalia, they got major attention last month when they seized the MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship carrying 33 tanks, anti-aircraft weapons systems, rocket-launchers and ammunition.

The pirates are demanding a multi-million-pound ransom for the ship and her crew, threatening to blow her up if their demands are not met.

The ship is currently blockaded off the African coast by a fleet of military vessels, led by the US Navy.

But the pirates have also stolen oil tankers and other cargo vessels, as well as stopping yachts and other pleasure craft. Those on board have been kidnapped and held for ransom. There have been more than 50 attacks on ships in the last year.

The treacherous waters off the Horn of Africa are regularly used by Shell Oil, as well as by aid agencies shipping food.

Defence Scretary John Hutton agreed to deploy HMS Northumberland to provide an operational headquarters for an EU mission to pursue and disrupt piracy in the region.

The problem was discussed last week at a meeting of EU defence secretaries in Budapest and plans are expected to be finalised in the next 10 days.

The MoD confirmed Britain's offer to deploy HMS Northumberland for four months, with the total deployment expected to last a year.