COUNCIL chiefs will be urged to help save a priceless collection of Second World War boats being restored in a former Hampshire shipyard.

Civic leaders have accepted an invitation to tour the British Military Powerboat Trust, which is facing a crisis after being told to quit its Marchwood home.

The visit will take place on Saturday - the final day of a successful Daily Echo D-Day exhibition.

Trust members will outline the threat to the boats' future in the hope that their VIP guests will join the campaign to find the craft a new home.

Operations manager Richard Hellyer said: "This is an opportunity to bring our plight to their attention and make them fully aware of the problem.

"Seeing these fabulous boats first hand is so much more effective than just reading about them in a letter."

Saturday's guest list includes Michael Woodhall, who is deputy leader of Hampshire County Council and its executive member for economic development. Michael Pemberton, vice-chairman of New Forest District Council, New Forest East MP Dr Julian Lewis and Southampton's new mayor, Dennis Harryman, have also agreed to attend.

Associated British Ports, which owns large amounts of land in the Southampton area, has also been invited.

Mr Hellyer added: "The response to the Daily Echo display has been excellent.

"We've seen a steady stream of visitors since it opened on June 5 and everyone has spoken about the exhibition in the highest regard.

"People wanted to know where we're going when we have to leave our present site, but we weren't able to give them an answer."

The boats will be moved to another part of the country or dispersed around the UK if the trust is unable to find another site in the Southampton area.

They include some of the famous "Little Ships" that rescued thousands of British troops stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk in June 1940.