The town will welcome up to 125 tall ships in 2010 after being chosen by race organisers Sail Training International to be the finishing point for the race.

Hartlepool will greet the ships, which will have sailed from Kristiansand in Norway on the second and final leg of the race.

Hartlepool already has good links with tall ships after almost 40 vessels visited Hartlepool in 2005 en route to Newcastle, and Hartlepool Council, PD Ports and Hartlepool Marina teamed up in April this year to submit a bid to host the race.

Race Director Peter Newell then paid a special visit to Hartlepool last month to see for himself what the town could offer.

During their stay, the ships will be berthed in Jackson Dock and Hartlepool Marina, and there will be a host of special events organised in celebration.

Hartlepool Mayor Stuart Drummond said: "This is a proud day for Hartlepool, and the news is particularly timely as it comes just before our Maritime Festival this weekend.

"There's a great spirit of partnership in the town and we put together a very strong bid. We knew we had the capability and the passion to be a top class host port and we are delighted that the race organisers felt the same.

"By 2010 the multi-million pound Victoria Harbour development will be well underway and the event will present a tremendous opportunity to showcase the town."

Allan Henderson, Hartlepool Marina Director, added: "This is fabulous news and a great honour. Hartlepool already has an excellent name in the maritime world, and the skippers and crews of the tall ships which visited us last year were very impressed with the fantastic welcome they received.

"Hosting the Tall Ships Race further reinforces Hartlepool's well-deserved reputation as a first rate visitor destination.

"We'll be pulling out all the stops to organise another great Hartlepool welcome for the ships and crews in 2010."