British sailors onboard the new HMS Queen Elizabeth, whose personnel includes a squadron from RNAS Culdrose, were arrested just hours after docking in the United States.

The £3 billion Royal Navy aircraft carrier, which is about to embark on four-months of fighter jet trials, arrived in Mayport, Florida on Wednesday.

Within hours of their arrival, six personnel had been arrested for alleged drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Aircraft, aircrew and support personnel from 820 Naval Air Squadron in Helston are among those onboard the warship taking part in trials – although it is not known, or suggested, that it was any of the Culdrose personnel who were involved in the arrests.

All the arrests are understood to have taken place late on Wednesday or early Thursday.

A Twitter account claiming to be a police officer in Florida reported on Thursday: “Holy hell Batman. Royal Navy has a ship docked in town and British sailors are wreaking hell at the downtown bars.”

A sergeant from Jacksonville Beach Police Department is quoted as telling a Jacksonville news website that six British sailors were taken into custody, mostly on drunk and disorderly charges.

Three were also reportedly charged with resisting arrest, by pushing and pulling, not putting their hands behind their back, or being disrespectful.

It is alleged that one of the sailors was tasered before being arrested.

It was also reported that the sailors were not getting into fights with the locals, but with each other.

It has been claimed that local bars did not receive any warning about the sudden influx of sailors, who were only due to be in port for a few days.

A Royal Navy spokersperson 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.”

No one from RNAS Culdrose was available to comment.