Work to rebuild the Bluebird boat in which speed ace Donald Campbell was killed was given official blessing by his daughter yesterday.

Work to rebuild the Bluebird boat in which speed ace Donald Campbell was killed was given official blessing by his daughter yesterday.

Gina Campbell fixed the first rivet in the craft, which was recovered from the bottom of Coniston Water.

The Bluebird K7's hull has been reconstructed over the past two years in Wallsend, North Tyneside. The process of returning the boat to full working order will now begin.

Donald Campbell was killed instantly when the craft flipped over while skimming the water at more than 300mph.

A spokesman said: "The Bluebird Project volunteer team has worked tirelessly for two years, reconstructing Bluebird from her shattered remains.

"The boat was successfully trial-assembled in September 2008 and now, with the backing of world-class sponsorship, her final construction to full working order will commence."

The speedboat will take her place at the Ruskin Museum at Coniston in the Lake District, and could be finished within a year.

Mr Campbell was killed in January 1967 while attempting his eighth world water speed record in Bluebird K7.