WORK to restore Donald Campbell's Bluebird is said to be on target for its one-off return to the water as the 43rd anniversary of the tragedy is tomorrow.

Mr Campbell was killed in 1967 while trying to break his own water speed record in the jet-powered boat on Lake Coniston, in the Lake District.

He died instantly when the craft flipped over at a speed of more than 300mph.

The craft is now being restored in South Shields and a one-off attempt to reach 100mph on the same stretch of water as the original attempt is being planned.

Members of the Lake District National Park Authority agreed last year to allow a one-off trial to prove the restored vessel's seaworthiness ahead of any further trips on the lake.

The restoration project, which when completed will comprise 90 per cent of the original boat recovered from the lake, started in 2001. The boat will be housed in the Ruskin Museum, in Coniston,.

Paul Evans was an Army communications officer who manned the radio on the day of Mr Campbell's record attempt. His son, Mark, has been involved in restoring Bluebird.

Speaking from his Darlington home, he said: "It is going very well. The first rivets have been put back in and things are on target for an August or September finish. We are very pleased."