NEWPORT'S medieval ship is set to get laser treatment thanks to a £10,000 donation from its friends.

Over the last two years, the ship project has used leading edge technology to make a complete record of the timbers.

A digital recording device has been used to create 3D images of every component excavated from the site.

Now, using the donation from the Friends of the Newport Ship, the project has acquired the latest laser scanning equipment which will collect even more detail.

FaroArm technology used to record the ship over the past two years relied on a probe tip being gently drawn over the timber surface.

But the new device "paints" the target object with laser light then senses the reflections which a computer converts into a three dimensional image.

This technology records surface detail and can create an accurate record of the various scribed lines and tool marks on the surface of the ship timbers.

Previously, a painstaking moulding and casting process would have to be carried out to capture this kind of information.

A spokesperson for the city council said it was very grateful to the Friends of the Newport Ship for the very generous donation.

Visitors to this Saturday's open day at the Medieval Ship Centre, Unit 22, Maesglas Industrial Estate, will be able to see the technology. It will be open between 11am and 4pm.

A second open day is planned for May 24.