People flock to see Campbell's Bluebird at museum

People lined the streets to welcome Bluebird when it arrived in Coniston on 9 March

People queued "out the door" to see Bluebird as Donald Campbell's famous hydroplane went on display at the Ruskin Museum, in Coniston, on Tuesday.

The boat returned to the Lake District on 9 March after a legal battle over its ownership.

Museum visitors told the BBC it meant "a lot" to see Bluebird.

Tracy Hodgson, director of the Ruskin Museum, said people had been "queueing out the door" since the opening on Tuesday morning.

"They've been waiting a long time to see her, so I'm glad we can now show her off to the world," Ms Hodgson said.

"It's going to be great for the village, it's going to be great for the museum, there's no doubt about that.

"For us, it's about telling Donald's story, about letting people know about his legacy."

'What a feeling'

Dawn Sempill, from Whitehaven, who helped restore part of the boat, said it meant a lot to see Bluebird back at the museum.

"She's absolutely stunning. It's a marvellous piece of British engineering."

She added: "When you stand beside it, you can almost feel the power. You can imagine Donald sitting in the cockpit and you can imagine that powerful engine behind him, propelling the boat forward.

"What a feeling."

Dawn Sempill helped restore parts of Bluebird

Steve Hodson, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, came to see Bluebird while on holiday after hearing the hydroplane had returned to Coniston.

"I was absolutely fascinated and couldn't wait to see her," Mr Hodson said.

Steve Hodson "couldn't wait" to see Bluebird

Rosemary Whitelegg, from Maryport, said it was "quite emotional" to see Bluebird.

"The museum have done a fantastic job of getting her home."

Rosemary Whitelegg said the museum had done a "fantastic" job

Mr Campbell had been trying to push his water-speed record past 300mph (480km/h) when Bluebird somersaulted in January 1967.

The wreckage was raised by Bill Smith's dive team on 8 March 2001 and the boat was recovered in his Tyneside workshop.

After its lengthy restoration, Bluebird ran again in 2018 at Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute.

A day after the boat returned to the Lake District, the Ruskin Museum announced it would run again on Coniston Water "at a time to be agreed".