ATTEMPTS to find a new home in the Southampton area for three historic boats from the Second World War have ended in defeat.

The British Military Powerboat Trust (BMPT) is moving the remains of its collection to Portsmouth, four years after it was forced to leave the old Husband’s shipyard at Cracknore Hard, Marchwood.

Husband’s was also home to some of the famous Little Ships that rescued more than 300,000 Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk.

But most of the boats owned by the BMPT and the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust were either destroyed or moved to other parts of the UK after the workshops closed.

Some of the Little Ships are likely to be displayed at a new maritime heritage centre planned for Southampton’s abandoned Trafalgar dry dock.

However, the proposal has come too late for the BMPT. The organisation has decided to merge with Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust after failing to find a new home in the Southampton area.

The three boats being moved to Portsmouth include a 64-year-old vessel that has been restored in a £45,000 scheme that was partly funded by the Daily Echo.

Fast Motor Boat 43957 served alongside great ships including aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.

BMPT spokesman Richard Hellyer said Portsmouth was the best place for the vessels.

He said: “With 600,000 visitors passing through the gates of Portsmouth Dockyard, the trust’s assets will go from being seen by the few to being seen by the many.”

Asked if there was any possibility of the boats being displayed in Trafalgar dry dock he replied: “Absolutely none. The scheme is in its infancy and has still to be formulated. This will take time and money, of which we have neither.”

The trust had to leave Husband’s shipyard in October 2005 after its lease expired. Mr Hellyer said the organisation looked at sites in the Southampton area, including Town Pier and RAF Hythe, but was unable to reach agreement with the owners.