More than 8,000 people have signed a petition to save one of the two remaining cross-Channel hovercraft from destruction.

Emma Pullen, trustee of the Hovercraft Museum Trust, set up the petition after it was revealed the historic crafts could be broken up and sold for scrap.

Princess Margaret and Princess Anne are the last of the 250 ton SRN4’s that used to cross the Channel with 400 passengers and 55 cars on board, with the gas turbine engines making the journey in just under half an hour.

The Hoverport once existed at the Western Docks at the Port of Dover but they were decommissioned in 2000, as the comfort of the ferries was preferred over the speed of hovercraft.

Princess Anne and Princess Margaret have been on display at the museum at HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, ever since.

Mrs Pullen said: “The SRN4’s are the centre point of the museum and our most important exhibits. Many people come simply to see these huge relics from a bygone age and their loss would be an enormous blow to the museum.

“But more important than that is the fact that they are a piece of British history, the like of which we will never see again.

“The Hovercraft Museum Trust is dedicated to preserving them and we hope that a deal can be reached to allow this to happen.”

In just a weekend, the petition to save at least one of the crafts gained 8,067 supporters and the Trust hopes this will convince the owners not to destroy them.

Mrs Pullen said: “The final decision is out of our hands and this has all happened at very short notice but we will do everything in our powers to protect at least one of these national treasures.”

The air-cushioned vehicle was renowned for reducing crossing times by half and remained in service for 30 years.

In its peak it transported more than two million people from Dover to Calais.

Essential building work on the hovercraft museum buildings at Lee-on-the-Solent, meant the hovercraft museum has not been open to visitors for nearly two years and only re-opened in January 2016.

Mrs Pullen said: “It’s been a difficult period. But since then, visitor numbers have been encouraging and the future was looking promising for this small volunteer-run museum. Whilst being stored at the museum, the SRN4’s are not owned by the Hovercraft Museum Trust and there has been a protracted legal battle between the craft and site owners which these gentle giants have found themselves caught in the middle of. This came to a sudden resolution this week and the hovercraft now face destruction and removal unless a last-minute reprieve is granted by the site owner.”

The land owners Homes and Communities Agency decided to push ahead with plans to destroy the vessels on Friday, January 29, which sparked the petition.

An HCA spokesperson said: “Our aim is to develop the land to create much needed homes and jobs, and regenerate the local area. We are currently in discussions with local partners, including the museum, to find a solution for the hovercraft.”

Legal consent to remove the hovercraft was granted to the HCA earlier this month but there is no deadline for removal.

The Trust hopes to save Princess Anne as it is in a better location and better condition than Princess Margaret.

Visit the Hovercraft Museum Facebook page for more details or sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/homes-and-communities-agency-save-the-princess-anne-the-last-remaining-srn4-hovercraft-for-the-nation