Gina Campbell said: “For those of you who think my father would be upset by the current situation, you’re right.” Donald Campbell died on Coniston Water, in Cumbria, in 1967 when his Bluebird hydroplane flipped at 328mph. In 2001 engineer Bill Smith recovered the body and the craft, refurbishing it. In 2006 Bluebird was gifted by the Campbells to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston. It is still waiting.

       It was hoped Mr Smith’s Bluebird Project could race it 90 days a year, but neither could agree terms.

       Last week the museum launched legal action.

       Gina said: “I wholeheartedly back the museum in this. They have been left with little choice but apply for their property.

       “When I gifted Bluebird K7 to the museum, it was entrusted to Bill Smith to rebuild her back to running order.”

       The museum said: “This action is very much the last resort, with relationships having irretrievably broken down.”

       Mr Smith, 54, of North Shields, North Tyneside, said there was no need for legal proceedings. He said: “They can take their bits away, we have still got our bits. We will just build another one.”

       Campbell, who was 45 when he died, broke eight world speed records.