Florida police 'use Taser on drunk and disorderly Royal Navy sailors' on shore leave from £3bn warship

'They beat the mess out of each other and fight each other more than anything, but once they pick up their teeth off the ground they are best friends'

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest ship ever constructed for the Royal Navy (EPA)

Several Royal Navy sailors from aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth have been arrested in Florida, including one serviceman who was reportedly Tasered by police.

Six crew from the £3bn warship were detained while on shore leave in the city of Jacksonville Beach on Wednesday, all but one on drunk and disorderly behaviour charges, local news outlets reported.

However, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department told Action News Jacksonville three sailors had also resisted arrest, causing an officer to stun one of the men using a Taser stun gun.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “We can confirm that a number of naval personnel are assisting US police with their enquiries – it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

“The Naval Service places great importance on maintaining the highest possible standards of behaviour from its personnel at all times.”

Jacksonville Beach police officer Sgt Larry Smith said there had been no further issues involving British servicemen in the city since law enforcement had spoken to senior ship officials.

“These guys come in town periodically,” he told the Florida Times-Union.

“They beat the mess out of each other and fight each other more than anything, but once they pick up their teeth off the ground they are best friends.”

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the UK’s newest aircraft carrier and the largest ship ever produced for the Royal Navy.

The 65,000-tonne vessel, nicknamed Big Lizzie, had docked in Florida on Wednesday after departing Portsmouth for its first major overseas deployment in August.

Its crew is expected to engage in a series of drills and tests with their US counterparts before returning to UK in December.