THE replica of Captain James Cook's ship, Endeavour, is to make a return to its spiritual home.

HM Bark Endeavour, on a European tour, is preparing to sail into Whitby, North Yorkshire, next Thursday.

Its arrival, at about 8.30pm, will herald two weeks of celebrations to mark its stay, starting with a fireworks display on the night.

It will be the third time the crew of the replica ship have visited Whitby following successful visits last year and in 1997, which saw thousands of tourists visit the town and millions of pounds ploughed into the local economy.

The original vessel took Captain Cook to Australia for the first time 236 years ago.

Julian Hicks, marketing director for The Endeavour Foundation, which operates the Endeavour replica, said: "Last year we had about 75,000 people welcoming Endeavour into the harbour, which was absolutely fantastic. We are quietly confident that we will match or beat that figure this time around."

HM Bark Endeavour will leave Hull on Tuesday and is expected in Scarborough's South Bay at about 7pm the following day before sailing to Whitby. It will be moored in the town's harbour and open to the public from Friday, May 23, to Sunday, July 6, from 9am to 6pm.

A festival of events featuring different themes for each weekend during its stay is being arranged to coincide with the return to the town where the original Endeavour was built in 1765 to carry cargoes of coal.

The festival will begin with an Endeavour folk weekend with music and dance at various locations in the town - both indoor and outdoor - over the spring bank holiday weekend.

A flower festival will also take place with displays from the harbour to the headland. Another main attraction is a science weekend, called Discovery, which will offer people the chance to learn about Whitby's maritime history and archaeology through hands-on workshops.

Children from local schools are also working in groups to create murals based on Whitby harbour. The most striking entries will be displayed and designers of the best entries will be allowed to spend a day on the ship.

HM Bark Endeavour will also be visiting Middlesbrough, from Saturday, October 18, to Sunday, November 2, and Newcastle, from Saturday, November 22, to Sunday, November 30, with more details being announced later in the year.

* Admission on to the Endeavour is adult £7, concessions £5, child £4 and a family ticket is £18. Reduced rates are available for coach and school parties.

For information about bookings for more than 15 people, call the Endeavour office on 08707 458958.

People can sign up as volunteer guides by calling Jo Crowley on 07734 233782. For further details about sailing with Endeavour's crew, call 08707 458958.