A scheme to rebuild a replica of Captain James Cook's legendary ship Endeavour, is under way at a harbourside shipyard at Whitby - close to the spot where the original was built 250 years ago.

The 40 per cent size of the original is being built for Scarborough fishing boat skipper Colin Jenkinson and his wife, Rachel, as a tourist attraction for Whitby. It will take parties of holidaymakers and school groups to sea to give them a taste of what life would have been like in the bark vessel when it was on its voyages of discovery to the South Seas.

Shipbuilder Jim Morrison who, with his partner, is building the boat with craftsmen at their Parkol Marine Yard, in Whitby said: "We now have the wooden frame assembled. Traditional shipbuilding skills and techniques that were around in Cook's day are being used to recreate the replica."

The public are now being given the chance to see the construction work in progress and information boards are on display outlining the history of the original Endeavour and Cook's expeditions.

The replica will carry 35 passengers said Mr Jenkinson, one of the founder members of Alliance Fish Company and skipper of the Scarborough trawler Our Pride.

"I am sure it will be an asset to Whitby," he said.

The new Endeavour is due for completion next March and will be starting its pleasure trips early in the summer.

A full size replica of the Endeavour, built in Australia, attracted 2.5 million people to Whitby when it sailed into the port and made two stays as part of a British tour.