Where is bluebird boat

The daughter of speed enthusiast Donald Campbell has called on the Government to help save her father iconic jet-powered hydroplane, Bluebird, for the nation following the claim of the man who restored it that it now belongs to him.

Gina Campbell, the only child of Donald, has said that Bluebird K7 should be on public display in the Ruskin Museum in the Lake District, close to Coniston Water where her father was killed trying to regain the world water speed record in Ms Campbell donated the wreck of the boat to the Ruskin in , after Tyneside engineer Bill Smith volunteered to restore it. Almost 17 years later Mr Smith now claims the vessel should remain with him and seen in action by the public, rather than in a museum.

We, as a family, operate as honour and trust and he would be so disappointed at what has happened. It belongs to the nation. It would be wonderful if the Government were interested in mediating, as the only way I can see this ending otherwise is in front of a judge. We would display the boat in the museum when we were not using it. He has. But over the past 17 years he has relied upon many other volunteers to complete the work.

Mr Carroll said its offer in that Mr Smith could have control of Bluebird for up to 90 days a year was "rejected in under 24 hours". But Mr Smith said the conditions attached and the requirement for him to have approval from the museum for any plans a year in advance made it unacceptable.

Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria bbc. Plea for Campbell's Bluebird return 'in one piece'. Campbell's restored Bluebird faces ownership row. Bluebird: 'Lock it away and interest will wane'. Image source, PA.

Bill Smith recovered Bluebird's wreckage in Image source, Getty Images. The rebuilt Bluebird underwent trials in Scotland in Bill Smith has ben restoring Bluebird since In August the museum said it "had to take legal action to see K7 returned to her owners" but admitted none of the agreements drawn up over the years meant it could simply be removed from Mr Smith's premises. Mr Smith's team is now removing "the bits that came out of the lake" and they will be handed back.

He said: "It'll be essentially from about half-way back, and bits of the forward structure. Jeff Carroll, one of the museum's trustees, said: "The decision to take the boat apart is theirs. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria bbc. Dismantling Bluebird only remaining option - museum.

Plea for Campbell's Bluebird return 'in one piece'. Bluebird: 'Lock it away and interest will wane'. The restored craft is being taken apart at the workshop in North Shields.