She fought for her country in the Great War, but the former HMS Excellent faces the scrapheap.

The 125-year-old gunboat, now called The Demon, lies rusted and rotten in water at Pound's Yard, Hilsea, Portsmouth and will soon be broken up.

Her fate was revealed in June, just days after Prince William visited Gosport to promote the area's naval heritage.

In a bitter blow for campaigners, contractors for the Tipner Regeneration Company removed sections of the 35-metre craft over health and safety concerns.

Campaigner Rob Buckel, 27, said: 'It is a real shame what has happened to what remains of The Demon.

'I don't have the cash to pay to remove it, that would take a few million pounds, but maybe there is someone out there who does.'

The vessel was built in 1883 as a floating testbed for guns and was bought by the Admiralty in 1891, who renamed her HMS Excellent.

Mr Buckel said: 'She was sent to the gunnery school at Whale Island, which was later named HMS Excellent.

'She is a great example of a Victorian ship and fought in the First World War off the coast of Belgium.

'It is this history that makes her interesting. She spans much of Britain's navy heyday.'