MORE than 50 historic vessels are to assemble at a South Lakeland museum in what is being called the 'biggest gathering of steamboats in Europe for more than three decades'.

The beautiful boats will be decked out in bunting and their owners will be sporting period costume.

The gathering at Windermere Jetty Museum on August 7 is to mark 50 years since the formation of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain.

Helen Steeple, from the Steam Boat Association committee, said: “Steamboats are totally unique and have formed an important part of the Windermere scene for many years.

“We feel very privileged that such an impressive flotilla has come together for our 50th anniversary, as nothing like it has happened in either the UK or Europe for over thirty years.

“It gives us a great opportunity to show that steamboats are part of both the future as well as the past."

Visitors to the museum will be able to see the fleet moored from Thursday, August 5, with the main event taking place from noon on the Saturday.

The boats will parade through Bowness Bay and around Belle Isle before returning to the museum.

Included in the flotilla will be the historic steam launch Shamrock and the museum's very own Steam Launch Osprey, built in 1902.

Anna Saczek, head of visitor experience at Windermere Jetty Museum, said: “This promises to be one of the most exciting events at the museum yet!

"We cannot wait to see more than 50 steamboats on our jetties.

"This will be a fantastic experience for our visitors of all ages.”