TEIGNMOUTH town council could secure the replica yacht Teignmouth Electron used in filming of a major feature film telling the story of tragic sailor Donald Crowhurst.

A working party has been set up to see how the council can bring the trimaran back to the town and have it moored as a tourist attraction.

The boat used in the film, starring Oscar winner Colin Firth as Crowhurst, is not actually a working yacht.

Inside, it is empty and has to be towed.

But councillors believe if they can get it back to Teignmouth, it could bring visitors to the town.

Cllr David Cox explained: 'This is a great opportunity to promote Teignmouth and encourage more visitors.'

The working party will be looking at ways to finance the project to secure the yacht and longer term, if their bid is successful, how to fund maintenance.

As it is not a seaworthy vessel, it could be moored at Morgan's Quay where the public could go on deck.

Producer Peter Czernin previously l From page 1

said he would like to see the boat kept in Teignmouth but that it is a very expensive boat.

He has already spoken to Teignmouth Museum, which has also expressed an interest in the replica.

Crowhurst set sail from Teignmouth in 1968 to compete in the Golden Globe solo, non-stop round the world race.

But his inexperience at sea sailing soon got him into difficulties.

He secretly abandoned the race, falsified his position and log books, planning to hang about in the south Atlantic for several months before heading back on the final leg.

But his reported position suggested he was in the lead and Teignmouth was preparing to give him a hero's welcome, believing he had spent 240 days circumnavigating the world.

In July 1969, Teignmouth Electron was found adrift and unoccupied and despite an air and sea search, Crowhurst was never found.

Evidence from the log books suggested he had a mental breakdown and may have taken his own life.

The real Teignmouth Electron was first taken to Jamaica and was sold several times.

It is currently a wreck on a beach at Cayman Brac in the Cayman Islands.