SEVENTY years ago, a cottage belonging to the family of Captain James Cook was dismantled and shipped to Australia.

Yesterday, on the 276th anniversary of his birth, the land on which it stood was returned to its rightful owners.

Great Ayton Parish Council has been campaigning to get the land back into its ownership ever since the cottage, in Bridge Street, in the village, was taken down.

Captain Cook lived in the North Yorkshire village during his school years, leaving for Staithes and then Whitby, where his life as a famous explorer began.

His family lived at Aireyholme Farm until 1755, when they moved into the two-storey brick cottage, which was built by Cook's father.

Cook joined the Royal Navy in the same year and it is thought he visited his parents at the cottage in 1757.

The building was sold in 1933, dismantled brick by brick and shipped to Australia. It was rebuilt as a public attraction in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne.

An obelisk marking the site of the cottage was erected in Great Ayton and the land was given to Middlesbrough Council.

Councillor June Imeson, the former chairwoman of Great Ayton Parish Council, said: "No one knows why this land was given to Middlesbrough and not Great Ayton, but it was and we have been trying to get it back ever since.

"Middlesbrough have looked after it well, but it sits in the heart of our village and it is much more appropriate that we look after it.

"It has been a long and hard-fought battle to get it back and I am very grateful to the town's elected mayor, Ray Mallon, for his help in making our wishes come true.

"The people of Great Ayton are delighted that they will be able to look after the plot in future -Captain Cook is a very important part of the village's history."

Yesterday, the chairman of Middlesbrough Council, Javed Ismail, handed the deeds of the land to Coun Imeson.

Coun Ismail said: "Great Ayton and Middlesbrough share equal pride in Captain James Cook and his achievements, and I am very pleased that after all these years, we have been able to resolve this matter and return the land to the parish council."