HUNDREDS of people flocked to a Hamp-shire shipyard to view a priceless collection of wartime vessels that could soon disappear from the county.

The British Military Powerboat Trust opened its doors to the public over Easter - just days after revealing the biggest crisis in its history.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the trust must move out of Husband's Shipyard at Cracknore Hard, Marchwood, because the site has been sold.

Members have launched a desperate search for alternative accommodation in the Solent area.

Their boats could be dispersed around the UK, or moved to a new home hundreds of miles away, if no-one comes forward with a suitable site.

The Easter open days gave the public a chance to inspect the unique group of craft that the area is in danger of losing.

They include some of the famous Little Ships that rescued more than 300,000 British and French troops stranded at Dunkirk in May 1940.

Richard Hellyer, the trust's operations manager, said: "Everyone is totally dismayed that we have got to move, but no one has got any answers.

"Any ideas that people do come up with have already been explored.

"Our lease does not expire until September next year, but we would like to move sooner rather than later and end all the uncertainty.

"Everyone would be enthused and we would probably have more volunteers because we would be looking at a future instead of a brick wall."

Boats on show to the public over Easter included the Hythe-built Seaplane Tender 1502, which has been restored to its former glory with the help of a £2,000 grant from the New Horizon Trust.

Little Ships on display included Rania, one of seven Dunkirk craft built by the Rampart Boat Building Works in Southampton.