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

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

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

Captain Cook lived in the 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 James's father.

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

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

An obelisk marking the site of the cottage was erected in Great Ayton and the land handed over to Middlesbrough Council for safekeeping. Former chairman of Great Ayton Parish Council, Councillor June Imeson 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 Councillor Imeson, who is the chairman of Hambleton District Council.

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."