THE daughter of record-breaker Donald Campbell has vowed to step in and resolve a row over her dad’s legacy, The Mail can exclusively reveal.

The world watched in horror back in 1967 when Campbell was killed while attempting to set a new water speed world record on Coniston.

Locals “successfully misdirected” opportunistic amateur divers who attempted to find and retrieve Bluebird’s wreckage, who did so without the approval or knowledge of Campbell’s family, but in 2001 his final resting place was located by Bill Smith from Newcastle.

After being made aware of Mr Smith’s plan, and his bid to remove Bluebird’s tail fin to retain as a trophy, Campbell’s family took legal action to obtain possession of the wreckage.

Speaking to The Mail this week Gina Campbell said: “In the early 90s Bill Smith rang me and said he wanted to find my father’s boat and he said ‘if I do would you want a piece of it’.

“I was absolutely horrified.”

A few years later Mr Smith informed Gina Campbell he had located Bluebird and she agreed he could recover it if he also retrieved her dad’s body. This was achieved in 2001.

In 2006 the Campbell Family Heritage Trust handed over legal ownership of the wreckage to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston.

An agreement was made between the museum and Mr Smith that he would restore Bluebird to its former glory.

But since then a series of misunderstandings have muddied the waters to the point where Bluebird’s ownership, existence and future is now in doubt.

Mr Smith and his volunteers say a string of emails between them and the museum from 2012 prove an agreement was reached to allow them to display Bluebird at various events.

They have referred to this as a ‘contract’ and believe it is legally-binding and supersedes the legal document signed by all parties in 2006.

The museum's trustees dispute this and say Mr Smith’s threats to dismantle the reconstructed Bluebird have led them to request the hydroplane is returned immediately.

When asked by The Mail if the museum has contributed financially, in any way, to the project since 2006 Mr Smith responded: “No.”

He also denied wanting to retrieve parts of Bluebird despite emails seen by The Mail in which he confirms that was his original intention.

Official accounts seen by The Mail prove the museum has covered all business rates and water bills for 12 years to the value of £35,000.

Gina Campbell said she will act as a mediator to get all parties to agree a resolution to halt ensuing legal action.

"It is a mess," she said.

"Everyone needs to get together to formulate a proper programme. There has to be a compromise.

"I don't want to see Bluebird dragged through the courts. I'll do whatever I can to help."