Donald Campbell's Bluebird restored to its former glory ahead of first water tests since that fatal crash

For over a decade, Donald Campbell's Bluebird has been painstakingly restored in a garage in North Tyneside.

The iconic powerboat has been re-painted and re-surfaced but Bill Smith, who has lead the restoration work, was keen to preserve as much of the original materials and features as possible.

The hydroplane crashed in January 1967 killing her pilot, Donald Campbell, as he attempted to break the water speed record on Coniston Water in the Lake District.

Bluebird was travelling at over 300mph when the craft flipped and crashed.

Donald already held 8 world speed records.

Bluebird's wreck wasn't recovered from Coniston Water until 34 years later.

Bill Smith from North Tyneside had the famous hydroplane brought to shore in 2001.

Along with a team of engineers in North Shields, Bill has been lovingly returning her to her former glory ever since.

Bluebird is now on the Isle of Bute in Scotland where over the next two weeks she will complete her first test run.