THE pride of the North-East's shipbuilding history has been placed under the spotlight in an exhibition featuring a flotilla of miniature vessels.

Up to 40 model boats, representing the seafaring trade from the early 1800s to the 1940s, went on view in the Roland Cookson Room at Beamish Museum, County Durham, at the weekend.

The Ships of Yesterday exhibition was organised by the Wearside Model Boat Club, whose members strive to preserve, on a small scale, the shipbuilding traditions of the rivers Wear and Tyne.

One of the star attractions was an 8ft model of the First World War battle cruiser HMS Lion.

Still under construction after 14 years, it will be another three years before its maker Bill Coates has completed the project.

Alan Mason, who organised the event, said: "We are keen to keep the traditions of shipbuilding alive in the North-East.

"We have lost our shipyards, but these are exact scale models of the vessels built on the Tyne and Wear and which sailed from ports here.

"The aim is to give people the opportunity to see the skills and intricate construction which go into the building of these perfect scale models."

The exhibits included Grey Hulls (Royal Navy ships), fishing boats, steam merchantmen, and tugboats. There were examples of drifters and trawlers, with explanations of their different methods of fishing.

One unique vessel displayed was a First World War steam-powered submarine - built with collapsible funnels.

Mr Mason, a former marine engineer, said: "The exhibition had to be planned with military precision, with barely more than an hour to get the exhibits in place before we opened.

"It was a resounding success and we must have had nearly 1,000 visitors pass through.

"If invited for a further visit we are confident we will return with a bigger and better event."