HUNDREDS of wellwishers turned out to welcome the replica of the HMS Endeavour back to the birthplace of its famous captain, explorer James Cook, yesterday.

And shortly after she docked, Prince Andrew visited the ship to meet the crew who travel the world as Cook did 235 years ago.

The visit also coincided with the 92nd anniversary of the opening of the Teesside Transporter Bridge, and the cannons on the ship gave a salute to mark the occasion.

Captain Chris Blake said of the royal visit: "It was great. He seemed to really enjoy it and could not believe how cramped it is below deck and how people used to live down there for so long.

"He was comparing it to his own naval days and said he could identify with how small the cabins are."

The prince also met the assistant museum curator, Ian Stubbs, who was dressed as Captain Cook.

Mr Stubbs will be telling the public about the adventures of the sailor and giving tours over the next two weeks while the ship is in dock.

He presented the prince with a book from 1928, created for the bicentenary of Cook's birth, and was rewarded with his signature in the museum's visitor's book.

He said: "It is an important day for the town because Cook was one of Middlesbrough's famous sons and people forget how much interest there is in him nationally and internationally.

"He is the third most popular to appear on stamps after royalty and Winston Chur-chill."

Cook was voted Middlesbrough's most famous son in a poll earlier this year, and came 12th in the list of the greatest Britons.

The prince also spoke to children from Captain Cook Primary School, in Marton.

Later in the day, the prince put a seal of approval on the North-East's newest hospital.

The prince unveiled a plaque to officially open the 1,000-bed £164m James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

During a short ceremony, he congratulated everyone for the completion of a "magnificent project".

The hospital has doubled in size to provide facilities among the best in Europe.