Bringing the Bluebird back to life

Donald Campbell's boat, Bluebird, lay hidden on the bottom of Coniston Water for 34 years, until a diver from the North East found it in 2001.

Campbell was killed instantly in 1967 when the Bluebird overturned, as he attempted to break his own world water speed record on Coniston Water.

At first, Campbell's family didn't want Bluebird to be brought to the surface. But with the treat of bounty hunters, it was agreed she should be restored and relocated to a museum.

The Bluebird was discovered by Bill Smith and his friends, who had spent four years diving in Coniston. Bill found it when he got his foot caught in a piece of the wreckage:

They brought the boat to the surface and it was taken to their workshop in North Tyneside - where it's been gradually restored by volunteers over the past 15 years.

The cockpit wreckage was in excellent condition when it was recovered and the team have been able to use a majority of original parts to rebuild Bluebird.

The team are creating a 'living machine' as close to the original plan as possible, complete with a working engine, which they say is quite challenging as the design has to be done from archive photos.

When the boat is completed, she will be moved to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston.

Donald Campbell's daughter, Gina Campbell, says it's because of people like Bill that her father's memory remains alive.