One of the region's leading tourist attractions is to be transformed - if funding can be found.

Planners from Hartlepool Borough Council yesterday approved the £2m to £3m plans for Hartlepool Historic Quay and Museum and the warship HMS Trincomalee.

It is hoped that the money will be secured from the government, European Union and the lottery.

Plans include promoting the 1817-built Trincomalee, which is Britain's oldest floating warship, and the neighbouring Historic Quay together as a single attraction. At present an adult visitor must pay £5.50 for the Historic Quay museum and a separate £4.25 for the Trincomalee but in future a single ticket of £6.25 will give access to both.

Other plans include: lifting a nearby paddle steamer called Wingfield Castle out of the water and converting it into a museum and education facility, creating a new Trincomalee exhibition, building new office accommodation and enlarging a visitor reception building. Other money would be spent on maintenance and improvement costs.

The council expects to pay £50,000 to the HMS Trincomalee Trust's running costs by the end of the current financial year, a reduction from £92,500 from the previous year. The Trust remains an independent body which could take a decision to leave Hartlepool although it is hoped there will be greater co-operation in future.

It was hoped the Historic Quay and HMS Trincomalee would attract up to 500,000 visitors a year when the attractions were opened in 1994 but only about 75,000 tourists a year visit.

Members of Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet committee agreed to approve the latest plans a meeting at Hartlepool Civic Centre.