Bluebird brings record numbers to museum

Bluebird has been on display since March

More people have been to see Donald Campbell's Bluebird in its first two months on show than visited a museum for the entirety of 2023.

It is the first time the hydroplane has been on display in the Lake District after its pilot was killed in a crash on Coniston Water 57 years ago.

The plane was handed to Coniston's Ruskin Museum in March.

Museum director Tracy Hodgson said Bluebird had put the museum and the village "back on the map".

The hydroplane's wreckage was recovered in 2001 and rebuilt by Tyneside engineer Bill Smith.

In March, Mr Smith relinquished his bid for part-ownership following a years-long row.

More than 16,000 people have made the trip to see Bluebird since it was put on display on 19 March, according to the museum.

This is compared with the 10,713 visitors the museum received in total for 2023.

Ms Hodgson said the increase in earnings it had received from Bluebird's popularity would allow it to "look after the boat going forward".

The money would also help the team carry out any work that will be required to allow it to run on Lake Coniston "when the time is right", she said.