GLASSMAKERS have made their own tribute to an important piece of Sunderland's shipbuilding past.

Wearside Glass Sculptures, based in the city's National Glass Centre, has produced a sculpture of the Sunderland-built clipper City of Adelaide.

The ship, built in 1864, is in the Scottish Maritime Museum, which is facing bankruptcy.

Campaigners from the group Sunderland Maritime Heritage hope to raise £1m to bring the ship, the only surviving Wear-built clipper, back to the city.

Brian Jones and Norman Veith, who run the firm, hope that their design could help with the fundraising. Mr Jones said: "We made a sample of a glass sculpture ship in a glass case. We thought it could help generate money for Sunderland Maritime Heritage, especially if it was a limited edition."

He said that they were waiting to see if the group would adopt the idea.