Hundreds visit Bluebird within hours in Coniston

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Bluebird was brought back to the museum by Bill Smith and his team. Credit: Photographer Anthony Stuchbury

Part of Donald Campbell's Bluebird K7 boat has been installed in the Ruskin Museum in Coniston and hundreds have come to see it within a few hours of the display being open to the public.

The boat was torn apart when it flipped while Donald Campbell was trying to break the water speed record on Coniston in 1967. He died instantly and parts of the boat lay on the bed of Coniston Water until 2001, when they were raised.

Two of the original conserved and reconfigured spars and some of the fairlings have been maneuvered into position into the museum, along with two replicated sponsons. The original sponsons were in the floating wreckage that was lost after the accident.

It's been popular with over 150 visitors already in its first day and many more are expected as the rain sets in and tourists seek indoor activities.

It's been back breaking work heaving the parts into display, the museum told ITV Border it was brought in "by blood sweat and determination".

Other parts of the craft are still being restored in a small North Shields workshop, with the help of volunteers. This now makes space in the workshop for work on the hull.

Eventually these pieces will go back to Tyneside so the whole boat can be married together. She'll then be sprayed bluebird blue and will return to full working order on Coniston.