Remember the countdown clock?

2010 '“ that was the year when the tall ships were on their way.

And most weeks, there was some exciting new development as the town got ready for a huge spectacle.

There were some really interesting meetings as the event drew closer, including the day when delegates gathered in the Borough Hall to discuss scenarios which might happen if the event went wrong.

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They included an imaginary fire on a ship to a tanker spillage on one of the busiest roads into town.

Thankfully, none of it happened when the races did come to town, but Hartlepool was well prepared just in case it did.

One couple, Trevor and Elaine Page, turned to the Hartlepool Mail to appeal for somewhere to stay during The Tall Ships Races.

The pair, from Stanley in County Durham, were planning to be volunteer liaison officers during the races but they needed accommodation.

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Every week in the run-up to August, we featured a two-page spread on the Tall Ship-related news – covering everything from details on the ships which were coming to town, to the news from the other ports in that year’s races.

One week, we brought you news of the music acts which would be headlining over the weekend, as well as telling the world of the plans for a giant firework display.

And who remembers the countdown clock which was a big feature on Marina Way?