A BOATYARD in Hampshire is helping to restore a "Little Ship" that helped turn the tide of history in the Second World War.

The motor yacht Bounty was among more than 700 vessels that crossed the English Channel to rescue 300,000 Allied troops stranded at Dunkirk in June 1940.

In total, she carried 1,000 men as part of the biggest armada of its kind in military history.

The evacuation meant Britain had enough men to rally later against the German fighting machine.

Camper & Nicholsons Yachting in Gosport is currently undertaking a major refit of the 77ft classic gentleman's motor yacht, which was originally designed and built by the company in 1936.

Work has already begun and Bounty will leave the yard by the end of June, to return in the autumn for further work.

The first stage covers work essential to maintaining the yacht's safety classification.

One of the more unusual items on the job list is to sweep the funnel exhausts.

Bounty was originally built at C&N's Gosport yard for Commander Charles A Lundy, who cruised the Baltic in her.

At the outbreak of the Second World War she was commissioned by the Navy under the command of her owner.

On her last trip from the Dunkirk beaches, and with some 150 troops aboard, a rope fouled one of her props and she almost foundered before being taken in tow by fellow Dunkirk Little Ship Seriola.

Bounty continued in naval service for the remainder of the war as a patrol boat, inspecting vessels entering British waters to check for spies and contraband, before returning to private service in the late 1940s.

Today, Bounty is based in the Solent and, as well as being used as a family yacht by her owner, she is available for corporate hospitality and charter.

The C&N team is also refitting Sir Francis Chichester's legendary Gipsy Moth IV, a record-breaking ketch which sailed around the world in 1966.