Visitors to the Hartlepool Maritime Festival this weekend had the opportunity to go on board the Australian replica of Captain Cook’s ship, The HM Bark Endeavour.

The Sydney-based vessel was on show at the two-day festival and the ship was open to the public for guided tours throughout the second day on 4 July.

Launched in 1993, the Endeavour took four years to build after thorough research to construct an exact replica of Captain James Cook’s 18th century ship.

Claire Munroe, from Hartlepool Council, said: “We were delighted to have HM Bark Endeavour visit Hartlepool to take part in our festival. With guns firing and sails unfurled, she looks exactly as if she had just sailed out of the pages of a history book.”