AS Britain prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of D-Day this weekend, a unique collection of boats which were vital to the war effort has come under a fresh attack.

The priceless group of wartime ships face the chop unless a new home can be found for them.

For two of the original Dunkirk Little Ships which rescued more than 300,000 British and French troops stranded at Dunkirk in May 1940, the future also hangs in the balance.

The British Military Powerboat Trust has been told it must leave its current Marchwood lodgings by September next year.

If alternative premises cannot be found nearby, the trust will be forced to look further afield. It is unlikely any of the boats will be destroyed.

But if a big enough venue is not found the boats will have to be split up - and the Dunkirk Little Ships will be the first to go as they are only on loan to the trust.

The search for a new home has, so far, been in vain. All of this means Hampshire is in danger of losing a goldmine of a tourist attraction.

Operations manager Richard Hellyer is frustrated by the lack of support and perplexed why people cannot see what they are on the verge of losing.

Every boat owned by the trust has its link with history somewhere in Hampshire. Many now on display were built at Hythe and later operated out of HMS Hornet in Gosport.

History would come alive, if the charity had its way, with visitors enjoying boat trips on fully-renovated seaworthy warships.

"If we had a pier where we had our boats on the water we would be able to take the boats across the water and do rides," said Richard.

"We could ferry people across from Southampton. We could use the boats for that.

"It would cost us very little to ferry them across and we could fly the flag at the same time - a moving boat is a much better advert than a static one."

None of these visions are any use without accommodation.

"Our problem is still where to go. We're not included in the plans for the Vosper Thornycroft site. It's very disappointing. We've tried Calshot, Portsmouth, Totton, Eling, Gosport, Fawley and Esso.

"Everyone's been very nice to use but unfortunately they haven't the sort of space that we need.

"Now we're looking as far away as Dartmouth, Poole and Kent."

All that is needed is a half-acre plot of land by the water.

"I don't think we're being taken seriously. A huge hunk of history will disappear if we lose these ships," Richard continued.

"Each individual history of the ship is relevant to the county and the city and the reason we're all still here. "Our plight is horrendously serious as far as I'm concerned."

One of the tust's foremost supporters is New Forest MP Julian Lewis.

The politician's vision of a museum displaying the ships which helped defeat the forces of fascism was a fitting one.

It would be sadly ironic to see that vision destroyed amid the 60th anniversary celebrations of our country's finest hour.

WHERE COULD THE LITTLE SHIPS END UP?

THE trust is still waiting for confirmation from four potential new homes:

Classic Boat Museum, Newport: The museum is considering moving to Cowes. Staff have not refused to share their new lodgings with the trust but they are also neither in a position to accept.

The old Phillips Boatyard, Dartmouth.

Royal Naval Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent.

Poole Power Station.

Overseers of the following locations have been forced to decline:

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - an ideal potential site. Unfortunately, the military decided they could not house the Trust for security reasons.

HMS Hornet, Gosport - where the powerboats were originally based during the war, also featuring many of the highly historic original buildings. No reason given for refusing.

Calshot Activities Centre - ideal in terms of the history of the site but the functions of the trust and the centre would not sit comfortably together.

Fawley Power Station - despite an apparent abundance of unused land at this site the power station could not help the trust. No reason was given.

Marchwood - a prime site, owned by the South-East Development Agency exists right next door the Trust. SEEDA has said the pitch cannot meet the trust's long-term needs because it is to be redeveloped and sold on.

The old Vosper Thornycroft site, Woolston - the trust had hoped to be part of the redevelopment of the prime site. Unfortunately, it is increasingly of the belief this will not be the case.