BRITAIN's oldest floating warship will be the inspiration for a jobs boost in a North-East town.

HMS Trincomalee, the last of the frigates commissioned by Admiral Nelson, is the centrepiece of Hartlepool's Historic Quay.

Now the trust that manages the ship wants to create a visitors' centre, and a hotel and conference centre at the Quay.

Partners in the multi-million pound development project, including the trust, London development group Sager Management Limited, English Partnerships and Hartlepool Borough Council, were yesterday in talks about how to proceed with the plans.

Bryn Hughes, general manager of the HMS Trincomalee Trust, said the development could be open by 2007. He said: "We are very excited about this project, which will be good news for the town.

"It will safeguard the 13 existing jobs of people employed by the trust and, together with the commercial development aspect of the hotel and conference centre, a substantial number of new jobs will be created."

Artists' impressions reveal that a wave-shaped building will be at the centre of the development, which would be the final piece of the jigsaw in the refurbishment of the Quay.

The development site is open land between Maritime Avenue and the Jackson Basin, south of the Hartlepool Historic Quay car park.

The visitors' centre is likely to contain an exhibition on the ship, an education facility, gift shop and cafe.

HMS Trincomalee attracts about 100,000 visitors a year. The fully restored ship, built in 1817, was based in its adopted town of Hartlepool between 1862 and 1877.

It has won a number of awards, including the International Marine Heritage Award and was this year named the Pride of Northumbria Visitor Attraction of the Year.

The Trincomalee Trust received £242,150 earlier this year from the Northern Rock Foundation to put towards designs for a visitors' centre.

Architects' company Piers Gough has been commissioned to design the centre as a modern landmark.

It is hoped planning permission will be granted in the summer.