CIVIC leaders, politicians and war veterans turned out to support the fight to keep a priceless collection of military ships in Hampshire.

The British Military Powerboat Trust has been told it must ship out its collection of 18 wartime vessels from its home in Marchwood before September next year or face the chop.

A search is now on for alternative accommodation in the Solent area.

Southampton's new mayor Cllr Dennis Harryman, New Forest MP Julian Lewis, members of the BMPT and war veterans visited the Trust, where they were given a guided tour of the historic boats under threat.

Following the event HMS Medusa was symbolically sailed down Southampton Water, flying the flag of the admiral of the port of Southampton. The day also marked the closing of the Daily Echo's D-Day exhibition.

Richard Hellyer, operations manager of the Trust, said: "We have had a huge response from Daily Echo readers who have suggested where we could go and what we can do - all of which we are following up. We have got to find somewhere otherwise all this goes."

The collection of vessels, which includes a pair of Dunkirk Little Ships which helped in the rescue of 300,000 French and British troops during the Second World War, must move out of Husband's Shipyard at Crackmore Hard because the site has been sold to a developer.

If a new home cannot be found the boats could be dispersed around the UK or moved to a new base hundreds of miles away.

"We desperately want to keep them in Hampshire," said Mr Hellyer.

Southampton Mayor Cllr Dennis Harryman said: "There is always great pressure on people who have anything to do with history.

"In Southampton the demand for land is so great that no one is going to give you an ideal site, particularly on the waterside."

He added: "You have to take your hat off to projects like this. There are people who give up so much time and energy. You have to honour and respect that."