A piece of the Yorkshire coast's fishing industry which is being restored by volunteers has been given a £20,000 cash boost.

One of the last surviving fishing cobles, the Margaret, was doomed to be burned at sea, following a tradition dating back generations, after it reached the end of its life.

However, heavy seas and storm force winds prevented its demise going ahead.

Conservationists at Filey then had the idea of saving the boat for future generations as part of the heritage of the coast.

Mel Whittaker of the Filey Coble Preservation Society, which was set up to carry out the £40,000 restoration, said: "It is more than the restoration of a fishing boat - it is a major part of our history."

The boat, like all the Yorkshire coast cobles, was built on the same lines as the Viking longboats, which were sailed across the North Sea a thousand years ago.

Volunteers have spent hundreds of hours carrying out the restoration, at a boatyard in Scarborough, with the aim of relaunching the boat on August 1, Yorkshire Day, at Filey, said Mr Whittaker.

Following a grant of £10,000 from Age Concern, the skills of Filey's fishermen and craftsmen will be passed on to the younger generation. The society is also to receive £20,000 from Yorkshire Forward's Single Regeneration Budget. The four-year project will see the restored coble used as a floating school to teach local youngsters marine skills.

Councillor John Dennis, executive member for North Yorkshire County Council business and community services directorate, said: "Fishing cobles have been part of Filey's heritage for nearly 1,000 years. The funding from the SRB to restore this vessels of particular significance because the Margaret was built in Whitby, and based at Filey."

The boat will be re-launched by its namesake, Margaret Jennings. Her brother, James Wyvill, fished in it for many years before he retired.