A new set of whalebones are in line to replace one of Whitby's most famous landmarks.

The existing bones, which form an archway on the West Cliff, in the shadow of the statue of Captain James Cook, are fast deteriorating.

Now, leaders in Whitby's twin town of Anchorage, in Alaska, have offered a pair of 15ft-high whalebones to the North Yorkshire port.

Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said: "The borough authority and Whitby Town Council have been anxiously looking for replacement whalebones for some years. An appeal was made through town council newsletters to Whitby's twin towns in the Falklands and Alaska."

The replacement bones have come to light through the Anchorage Sister Cities Commission, which says that a pair have been found in North Slope Borough, on the north coast of Alaska, where town leaders said Whitby can have them.

Coun Bosomworth said: "We are trying to secure the necessary export and import licences to bring them to Whitby, hopefully next spring."

She said the whale had been killed by Alaskan eskimo, known as Inupiats, who legitimately hunt whales for their own subsistence.

"The bones were discovered some time after the whale had been killed, lying on an ice shelf," said Coun Bosomworth.

"It is splendid news for Whitby, and just the solution to the problem we always hoped for. Erecting the whalebones on the West Cliff will see one of Whitby's best-known landmarks retained."

Councillor Dorothy Clegg, a Whitby town and borough councillor, chairman of the Captain Cook Association and the borough mayor, said: "I am delighted. There were plans to have replica bones made from resin, but they would not have been satisfactory - Whitby would always have felt cheated.

"The bones have been synonymous with Whitby since they were put up by Graham Leach, a retired council surveyor and engineer. We owe a lot to his foresight."

The existing bones were restored some years ago but have since suffered extensively from years of lashing by North Sea storms. After plans for fibre glass replicas were rejected by councillors, it was decided to let them remain until they had to be taken down in the interests of safety.

Gordon Somerville, Scarborough council's head of planning services, said: "The successful import of the new bones is dependent on the agreement of the United States and British import and export authorities, and we are in their hands as to whether we can go ahead. If it does become a reality, it will provide Whitby with a replacement for a much-loved attraction."

He said there would be little or no cost to the borough council, whose engineers will erect the bones.