A MINIATURE masterpiece has pride of place in an exhibition celebrating the life of Captain James Cook.

The model shows what the site of the cottage in Marton, where the seafarer was born, might have looked like 270 years ago.

Keen model-maker Gary Green, sites and monuments officer at Tees Archaeology, built the reproduction in his spare time.

It is now on show at the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, Stewart Park, Middlesbrough.

Based on a drawing by George Cuitt of the derelict cottage site in about 1786. It shows the cottage set in its garden and surrounding fields across the main road through East Marton village.

Museum curator Phil Philo said: "The model has figures of the villagers going about their daily life and that really captures your imagination."

After the Marton 1728: Captain Cook's Birthplace Village exhibition finishes, the piece will be moved into the main museum display.

For further information contact the museum on (01642) 311211.