'Little ship' sails back

A boat from Hartlepool made a triumphant and emotional return to the scene of her finest hour.

- Mark Payne

Former pleasure cruiser Watchful, which underwent a major restoration in the town, successfully sailed from Hartlepool to Dunkirk, in France, in official commemorations for the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in the Second World War.

She was one of a number of "little ships" that answered the country's call between May 26 and June 4, 1940, that rescued over 300,000 stranded Allied troops after being pegged back by Nazi forces.

At the weekend, Watchful, which rescued at least 900 soldiers, joined a flotilla of around 60 surviving small boats that recreated the journey across the English Channel for the major anniversary.