HMS Victory to be restored using French wood

Horatio Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, has been undergoing restoration

One of the most celebrated warships in British history is being repaired using wood from France.

Horatio Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, has been undergoing restoration by the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard.

She led Britain to victory over the French in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Andrew Baines, executive director of museum operations, said: "The Royal Navy has a long history of using timbers from across Europe and the world."

The majority of the oak for the restoration is likely to have been supplied from France

The conservation work is part of a 10 year project titled The Big Repair, which will cost £40-£45m.

Mr Baines said: "It’s a huge undertaking which involves conserving and replacing many of her timbers, which have become weathered over the years.

"The majority of the oak for this task is likely to be supplied from France, where there is a centuries-old forestry system in place that can sustainably supply mature oaks for this kind of task."

Mr Baines said they "require timber of a much higher grade than was originally used in the ship’s construction".

He acknowledged that some have said Nelson "might have been shocked" by the use of wood from his old enemy.

"We like to think that actually he would have approved of the best, most sustainable oak being used," he added.

The Royal Navy defeated the greatest threat to British security for 200 years.

Visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard can see the work take place as the shipwrights care for the iconic vessel.

The Battle of Trafalgar witnessed both the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte's plans for France to invade Britain, and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson.

During the engagement, on 21 October 1805, Britain clashed with the Combined French and Spanish fleet at Cape Trafalgar, off the coast of Spain.