A flotilla of “Little Ships” that took part in the 1940 wartime evacuations at Dunkirk were a big hit at the annual classic Boat Festival at St Katharine Docks by The Tower of London.

East London Advertiser: Massey Shore a hit with public at St Katharine's boat fetsivalMassey Shore a hit with public at St Katharine's boat fetsival (Image: St Katharine's Docks)

They included the famous Massey Shaw, the former London Fire Brigade fire-fighting vessel that joined the wartime flotilla bringing British and French troops back to Britain during the Fall of France.

The Massey Shaw, ironically, later tackled the huge blaze at St Katharine’s Docks a year later during the London Blitz.

East London Advertiser: Dark days of The Blitz when St Katharine's Docks were on fireDark days of The Blitz when St Katharine's Docks were on fire (Image: Archant)

It was the star attraction at the weekend when 8,000 visitors streamed into the docks marina for the two-day festival.

Quayside festival entertainment included a lifeboat crew choir singing sea shanties, the Pandemonium Drummers from the 2012 Olympics and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.