The last surviving First World War ship, HMS Caroline, has been given a £1m boost for urgent repair works with plans in the pipeline to turn the vessel into a floating museum.

The grant to the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), will enable works to make the Belfast ship, built in 1914, wind and watertight and to remove asbestos.

The restoration will be part of a two-phase rescue plan, the next stage being the transformation of the ship into a museum in time for the centenary of the Battle of Jutland, in which she fought.

Repair work to the light cruiser, weighting 3,750 tons and 446ft long, includes repairing upper deck drainage, replacing hatch and door seals and cleaning and repairing leaks.