NORTH Yorkshire businesses are expecting a huge boost this month when one of Whitby's most famous ships sweeps back to its spiritual home.

HM Bark Endeavour, the replica of Captain James Cook's 1765 ship, will be sailing into the town at about 8.30pm on Thursday for a six-week stay.

A huge fireworks display has been planned to coincide with the ship's third visit to Whitby.

Helen Oldcorn, from HM Bark Endeavour, said everyone was looking forward to the return visit after the success of last year's trip and the visit in 1997.

"I think we had about 50,000 people coming on board the ship when we were here last year, and a lot more coming to the town to look," she said. "During our stay Whitby tourist information centre reported they had an extra 87,000 visitors. Whitby is always a very exciting place for us, it is like our home port in the UK and it's always very special."

Tourism bosses further afield said the whole region was set to benefit.

Steve Jaques, chairman of Ryedale Tourism Association, said the knock-on effects would reach far out into the county. "Hopefully, people who want to go and see the ship will be staying in local accommodation, which will benefit the hotels and B and Bs," he said.

"We will be looking at visitors staying here for more than just a day out, which has got to be good because they will then be visiting other places apart from Whitby."

Mr Jaques said attractions such as Eden Camp, where he is museum director, would be likely to see an increase in trade as visitors stopped off en route.

"There will be a lot of people staying over in the surrounding area, and that has got to be good for everyone," he said.

Special events on the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway have also been planned on Spring Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday, May 27, with a steam shuttle from Whitby to Glaisdale ferrying visitors to the Endeavour in style.

Passengers heading to the coast from south of Pickering will be able to park in the market town and steam into port along the picturesque line through the National Park.

For more information about events in Whitby, phone the tourist information centre on 01347 602674.

The Endeavour will also be arriving in Scarborough at about 6pm on Wednesday, leaving there on Thursday at 11am.

Updated: 10:16 Friday, May 16, 2003