A Keighley company has played a major role in restoring an historic steam tug to its former glory.

Byworth, based in Parkwood Street, designed and manufactured a new boiler for Challenge.

The boat was the last steam tug to work on the Thames, but is best-known for its wartime exploits when it helped evacuate troops from the shores of Dunkirk in 1940 as part of Operation Dynamo.

Now the tug, following a massive refit, is in temporary dock in Southampton.

Soon it will be making its way around the coast to star in the Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival, followed by the London Mayor’s Thames Festival.

Phil Carr, project engineer at Byworth, said the company had been delighted to produce the innovative new boiler, which was lit and tested to full pressure without a hitch in April.

“The boiler had to be designed to fit into a very tight space,” he said.

“The original one had three furnaces, but ours was produced with two. The output needed is not as great because the tug no longer has to haul tankers. Our boiler is also capable of burning two fuels. A lot of people were involved in the project over a number of months and we are very pleased with the result. It has put a new heart into the boat.”