A group of aboriginal artists stopped off in York on their way to visit Whitby, the home port of Captain James Cook.

They travelled to York by train from London and then switched to a minibus to transport them through Ryedale and across the North York Moors to the coast.

The Mangkaja Artists from Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert are in Britain to promote an exhibition of their work at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery in London. It will be opened tomorrow by Germaine Greer.

Issues such as native title and aboriginal land rights are tackled in the work of artists Tommy May, Butcher Cherel, Spider Snell, Dolly Snell, Stumpy Brown, Mona Chuguna and Janet Williams.

Interpreter Gail Smiler, who is accompanying them, said: "We felt interested in how Captain Cook 'discovered' Australia. Before we set off, one of the artists, Tommy May, decided we should visit where he came from."

She said they were interested to learn that Captain Cook was regarded as a great historical figure in Britain as many aboriginal people viewed him in a different light.

"We are discovering Captain Cook as a hero for discovering Australia as well. We thought we would like to visit Whitby because he is a hero in this country."

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