A WIDE range of events were held over the weekend to commemorate the birth of James Cook 275 years ago.

Most of the events centred around Stewart Park, in Middlesbrough, with the final day of an archaeological excavation at the park taking place yesterday in a bid to discover more about the village of East Marton, where Cook was born.

Over the past fortnight, archaeologists from Tees Archaeology, together with volunteers and school groups, have been looking at the ruins of a cottage-type structure, which dates from the medieval period.

Whether this was where Cook was born cannot be determined, but the site has revealed some interesting artefacts. On Thursday, a silver coin from the 12th or 13th Century was discovered.

The archaeologists were joined by Tony Robinson and Carenza Lewis from TV's Time Team programme.

Earlier, an annual service of thanksgiving for Cook's life was held by the Middlesbrough Temperance Society at St Cuthbert's Church, in Marton, where Cook was baptised in 1728.

The service was followed by a procession across Stewart Park to the Birthplace Museum, where wreaths were laid in honour of Cook.

On Saturday, fundraisers got an aerial view of Middlesbrough as they took part in a sponsored climb of the rigging aboard the replica HMS Bark Endeavour, which is berthed at Middlehaven, in the town.

Fundraisers climbed the ship's rigging to a small platform around the ship's mast, about 50ft up.

Organiser Phil Philo, senior curator at the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, said: "This summer I was one of the volunteer crew on the Endeavour and so I know from experience the view is really spectacular.

"This was certainly a memorable way of raising money for charity."