Top awards for tall ship

HMS Trincomalee was built in India in 1817

Hartlepool's tall ship HMS Trincomalee has been officially listed as a nationally important vessel.

The ship has won the title after being awarded the Pride of Northumbria Visitor Attraction of the Year Award 2003.

It is the first time the ship has been eligible to enter after a change in the competition rules.

And the ship has also been included in the Core Collection of historic ships decided by the National Historic Ships Committee.

HMS Trincomalee, at Hartlepool's Historic Quay, is the UK's oldest warship afloat, being built in 1817.

'National stage'

Bryn Hughes from the HMS Trincomalee Trust, said: "This is important - the visitor award shows we are using the ship to good use for the public's enjoyment.

"Inclusion on the national historic ships list is also important, as it was set up by the government.

"It set seven criteria, one of which was that ships had to be built in the UK, and the Trincomalee was built in India.

"Thankfully another criteria - national historic importance - has now been added, and it means we are now on the national stage.

"It is vitally important that we are on this list, if only for future funding, if the Trincomalee is included in the elite group."