A PREVIEW of the majestic vessels that will visit the region for next year's Tall Ships' Race was revealed yesterday.

The Thyra, a scale model of a barque that carried coal from the North-East to Denmark during the 19th Century, has arrived at Gateshead Visitors' Centre.

The detailed model, which is about 6ft by 3ft, is made from mahogany with a copper keel.

The deck consists of more than 500 pieces of planking and each of the plates on the underside of the ship were placed by hand.

The model was built by Richard Haug and took ten years to complete.

Mr Haug, who was born in Denmark but moved to Newcastle, first became fascinated by tall ships while watching them as a child, and discovered the original plans for the model during his career in the Merchant Navy, which he joined at the age of 14.

Originally on display in the Trinity Maritime Museum, Newcastle, until it closed in 2002, the model is on loan to Gateshead Council from Mr Haug's stepdaughter, Pam Dixon, and her husband, Jim, who inherited the model.

She said "I am thrilled the Thyra has found a new home and can be seen by the public once again, as my stepfather always intended."

The model will be on display until the arrival of the tall ships next July, when more than 100 vessels will visit the River Tyne.