Dunkirk ‘little ships’ will open to the public in September

Several of the surviving Dunkirk little ships will be open to the public in September.

The Classic Boat Festival organisers say attendees can step aboard the vessels which sailed across the Channel to rescue trapped Allied soldiers in 1940 as part of Operation Dynamo.

In what Winston Churchill dubbed “the miracle of Dunkirk”, about 1,000 little ships sailed through heavy enemy fire to rescue more than 338,000 British and Allied troops from Dunkirk’s beaches.

The boats form part of more than 50 vintage vessels will assemble at The Classic Boat Festival in St Katharine Docks on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September.