A replica of the 19th Century slave ship, Amistad, is beginning a 22,500km (14,000 mile) transatlantic voyage retracing the route of the slave trade. The trip commemorates the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade within the British Empire.

The Freedom Schooner Amistad will set sail from the US east coast and stop in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

In 1839, 53 slaves mutinied on board the Amistad. They were captured, but won freedom in a historic legal battle.

The story was depicted in the film Amistad directed by Steven Spielberg in 1997.

The replica of the Amistad, whose name in Spanish means "friendship", will set sail on its 16-month trip from New Haven, Connecticut, at 1800 GMT.