The return of Donald Campbell’s famed Bluebird K7 to Coniston village has drawn more than sixteen thousand visitors in just two months.

Returned after years of negotiation, its homecoming was met with widespread celebration, giving Ruskin Museum a tourist surge.

The museum director, Tracy Hodgson, described the phenomenon as the 'Bluebird effect', with a noticeable increase in the number of people visiting the village solely to view the famous hydroplane.

She said: "The nationwide surge of interest in Bluebird and her story has continued in the form of the 'Bluebird effect', where more people than ever are now visiting the village just to see K7."

Over the span of March, despite being closed for ten days, the museum saw more than six thousand eager to see the historical icon.

The Mail: A statue of Donald Campbell welcomes people into the Bluebird wingA statue of Donald Campbell welcomes people into the Bluebird wing (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Hodgson said: "The numbers for April show that some ten thousand, four hundred and thirteen people visited the museum.

"Bluebird has put the Ruskin Museum and Coniston back on the map and has given a huge boost to tourism in the Lake District."

The strong visitor influx is a promising sign for the future of the museum.

Ms Hodgson said: "The museum and its trustees are delighted; the increase in earnings will enable us to look after the boat going forward and carry out any work that will be required to allow it to run on Lake Coniston when the time is right."

Bluebird's return has evidently sparked a global interest, attracting visitors from as far as United States and amongst the younger generation.

“We have seen visitors from all over the world, including one gentleman who travelled from the United States specifically to visit K7," said Ms Hodgson.

"There has also been an abundance of young people who have heard the story of Donald Campbell’s record-breaking and who wanted to see the boat for themselves."