Fifty years on from the death of Donald Campbell, a West Midlands company is helping with the project to restore his famous vessel, the Bluebird K7.

In August 2000, a team led by Bill Smith, an engineer and part-time diver, located the wreckage of the Bluebird. Since then, what was at first a recovery project has now become a full-scale restoration, with donations from Thyssenkrupp.

The UK headquarters of the company is in Cox's Lane, Cradley Heath, and has provided the Bluebird Project with material including sheet metal and 350kg aluminium billets, supplied from its facility in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

The project aims to restore the wreck of the iconic Bluebird K7 back to its former glory. Mr Smith said: "We've used virtually everything that came out of the lake but we've had to reshape what's available to use and replace some other parts. We were just starting out on the restoration when, by chance, Greg got in touch with us. He was eager to help and put us in touch with his colleagues."

Greg Buxton was a then-employee of Thyssenkrupp, the industrial materials group and he knew Mr Smith through their shared passion for diving. Mr Buxton introduced his employers to the restoration project and they were keen to get involved.

Steady progress is being made on the restoration. A bespoke engine based on the original design has now been fitted, and the Bluebird roared to life in November for the first time since that fateful day in 1967.