Disappointment as Bluebird to be tested in Scotland not the Lake District

The Lake District National Park says its disappointed by news that Donald Campbell's famous Bluebird is to be tested in Scotland this summer, rather than at Consiton Water.

The authority says it had even changed byelaws to allow trial runs of the restored craft at Coniston. Campbell died there in 1967 while attempting a new water speed record. But volunteers say they now plan to test it on the Isle of Bute

Campbell died on January 4 1967 aged 45 when the hydroplane flipped into the air and disintegrated as he attempted a new water speed record on Coniston Water in Cumbria.

In 2001 Campbell's body - with his race suit intact - and the wreckage of Bluebird were recovered from the depths of the lake and he was buried later that year in the village of Coniston.

Volunteers have been working on the hydroplane's restoration under the leadership of Tyneside-based Bill Smith for the past decade and have announced that Bluebird will undergo a test run at Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute in August.

A statement on the Bluebird Project website said:

Steve Tatlock, park management team leader for the Lake District National Park, said:

It is hoped that Bluebird will eventually return to Coniston Water and fulfil the wishes of Campbell's daughter Gina.

Campbell broke eight world speed records on water and on land in the 1950s and 1960s and remains the only person to set both world land and water speed records in the same year.

In his fatal record attempt, the son of Sir Malcolm Campbell, who himself held land and water speed records, had set himself a target of reaching 300mph (480kph) on Coniston Water.

He was posthumously awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct.