AS REMEMBRANCE day nears, these pictures from Woodnutt's boatbuilders in St Helens have been shared with the County Press.

There were 200 people employed at Woodnutt's during the Second World War, making the village boatyard an important contractor for the War Office.

The boatbuilders of St Helens built mainly Fairmile-class patrol boats for the admiralty and airborne lifeboats for rescuing RAF crew who had ditched into the sea.

The yard was first opened by Barney Woodnutt in 1853 and his son John Henry Woodnutt expanded the yard from 1885.

Alfred Westmacott followed in 1905 and his family, including his stepson Alec Mellor, ran the yard during and after the Second World War.

As a designer, Alfred Westmacott, is today remembered for his day boats, the X Boat, the Seaview Mermaid, the Bembridge One Design and the Sunbeam, but Woodnutt's turned out many other craft, including electric and steam launches and large cruising yachts.

All pictures are from the collection of Cecil Dyer (Bilko) a descendant of Barney Woodnutt. He is a member of St Helens Historical Society and worked at Woodnutt's for many years.