LARGE segments of Donald Campbell's ill-fated Bluebird vessel will make their first return to the Lake District this weekend.

Wreckage of Campbell's boat was recovered from deep in Coniston Water back in 2001 by diver Bill Smith - 34 years after the speed merchant crashed as he tried to beat his own 285mph water speed record.

Since then a painstaking mission to restore it to its former glory has been going on behind the scenes in a workshop in North Shields on Tyneside.

And this weekend two of the 12ft sponsons - which will sit either side of the main hull upon completion - will go on public display in the Ruskin Museum as the restoration gathers pace.

"This will be the biggest display in the museum and most it has ever had," said Mr Smith. "People will be able to get a gauge of scale and how it has been constructed."

Mr Smith and fellow restorers will arrive around noon on Saturday and expect it to be in place by about 2.30pm.

"People are welcome to come watch and ask any questions about how the build is going," added Mr Smith.

The sponsons will return to the workshop in the North East when all of the systems, including hydraulics, are completed before coming back to the Lakes to run once again across Coniston Water.