ADMIRAL Nelson's last surviving frigate has landed a tourist award.

HMS Trincomalee, restored to its former glory in Hartlepool at a cost of £10.5m, was named small visitor attraction of the year at the Pride of Northumbria Awards. The vessel attracts about 100,000 visitors a year. Runner-up was the Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Wearside.

Lumley Castle Hotel, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was named the website of the year.

Seaham Hall Hotel and Oriental Spa, in Seaham, County Durham, won the small hotel of the year award, while the runner-up was the Rose and Crown Hotel, of Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle.

Large hotel of the year was Newcastle's Copthorne Hotel, with the Redworth Hall Hotel, Newton Aycliffe, taking the runner-up award.

Other runners-up were: large visitor attraction of the year - Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden; self-catering of the year - Village Green Cottage, Ovington, North Yorkshire; tourist centre of the Year - Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. bed and breakfast of the year - Greta House, Barnard Castle.