MALDON'S Heritage Marine Foundation has been given a £17,500 Government heritage lifeline grant.

The foundation, based in the Downs Road boatyard, is one of 77 heritage organisations to receive a slice of the latest £14million funding from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The grant is from The Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage.

Among the many marine heritage restoration projects listed on the foundation's website are the drawings for the restoration of the ceremonial mast from HMS Ganges, based at Shotley in Suffolk. Brixham trawler Torbay Lass is also set be restored by the foundation at Maldon.

There is more about the restoration of the ceremonial mast from HMS Ganges here.