A MALDON firm is set to carry out the restoration of the world famous HMS Ganges.

The role of TS Rigging, of Downs Road - boat specialists based in Maldon for more than 20 years - was revealed in a detailed planning application made to Babergh District Council in Suffolk.

The plans are for the partial dismantling, restoration and rebuilding of the training mast at the site of the former Royal Naval Training Establishment in Shotley Gate, Suffolk.

The Grade II* listed mast will be restored as close to its former glory as possible, with TS Rigging carrying out the restoration, and will replicate everything down to the galvanised steel rigging, bottle screws and shackles.

Much of the rigging and spar restoration will take place in Maldon and Chatham.

Standing at 143ft, the mast is made up of three main parts; the main 75ft mast came from HMS Cordelia, a steam corvette built in Portsmouth, the top mast of 47.5 ft wooden ruffle box from HMS Agincourt, which was renamed HMS Boscawen, and then Ganges II.

Many spars are believed to have come from this ship too. The third part, known as the Topgallant is a 45ft section, although its origin is uncertain.

Expert riggers will also work on the course, topsail, topgallant and gaff yardarms, much of which have fallen off the core mast, after a thorough survey was carried out by the Heritage Marine Foundation.

It is believed the bottom part of the mast is the only section to have been part of the original, and the rest has constantly been updated or restored since it was first erected in 1907, a year after the training on HMS Ganges moved ashore and it became known as a "stone frigate".

The mast is considered too dangerous to be repaired without taking it down and much of the work will be carried out off site, including repairing the mechanism which allows it to be lowered.

All sections will be repainted and new rigging put in place. Work is likely to start on taking the mast down over the next few months and fully retired by the time 113 houses on the Ganges estate are built.

The parade ground, an area of 2,567 sqm, adjoining where the mast stands, is to be used for ceremonial events while also providing opportunities to ride, skate, exercise and other activities, according to the developers' design statement.