THE first ships from the Ghost Fleet will not arrive in the North-East next week as originally expected.

Two former US navy vessels were expected to reach the Able UK yard on Teesside on Wednesday at the end of their 4,500-mile voyage.

But poor weather has slowed down the transatlantic journey, and company bosses now anticipate they will arrive early the following week.

Before their arrival, controversial plans to dismantle the ships will come under the microscope at a meeting involving nine key organisations.

Hartlepool Borough Council's scrutiny co-ordinating committee is holding the meeting tomorrow to give the public a chance to ask questions.

Each of the organisations - Able UK, Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, the council, English Nature, One NorthEast, Tees Valley Regeneration, Tees and Hartlepool Harbour Master and Friends of the Earth - will set out their positions over the project.

The day-long event will be held in the council chamber of the Civic Centre, Victoria Road, starting at 9.30am.

It will be chaired by Councillor Harry Clouth, who will be assisted by Tim Straker, a leading lawyer who specialises in planning and environmental matters.

Coun Clouth said: "The scrutiny co-ordinating committee will take an in-depth look at the environmental issues in relation to the plan to dismantle redundant ships at Graythorp.

"This is an opportunity to inform people of the town as to what the environmental issues are, and how they are being addressed.

"In essence, it is designed to give the committee and the public a better understanding."

Four of the 13 ships have already left their moorings on the James River, in Virginia, with the first two expected to arrive on or about Monday, November 10.

The other nine will not leave the US until April at the earliest.