SUPPORTERS of a former 19th Century Royal Navy frigate in the North-East are expecting to hear today if they will continue to receive National Lottery funding for its restoration.

The Heritage Lottery Fund met yesterday to discuss future funding for the HMS Trincomalee Trust, which was set up to raise money to pay for the restoration of the ship, at Hartlepool.

Bryn Harris, of the trust, said yesterday: "We have provided the trustees with a lot of information and we are awaiting their decision.

"We have always to be optimistic about the result."