The 'Little Ships' that played a key role in one of World War II 's most important operations will be making a rare return to Ramsgate as part of the 70 anniversary commemorations of the Dunkirk evacuations.

Around 50 craft which helped to rescue 338,000 British and Allied troops from the beaches around Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo in 1940 are expected, and have already started gathering at Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Marina in preparation for the celebrations next week.

A day of commemorations will be held on Wednesday, May 26, as part of Ramsgate's Dynamo Day, which includes an inspection of the Little Ships and a blessing by the Secretary General and Senior Chaplain of the Mission to Seafarers, along with a reception hosted by the Mayor of Ramsgate.

There will also be a parade at 12.30pm of veterans, standards and civilian organisations, led by the Cinque Ports Corps of Drums, and a static display of period military vehicles. A flypast by a Spitfire and a Swordfish is due to take place at 2.25pm, and there will be an exhibition run by the Manston fire service museum team and an amateur radio station run by Hilderstone adult education service radio club. The celebrations go on into the evening, with a 1940s theme night at the Belgian Bar, with Tony Lesurf and Four's a Crowd, and there will be a fireworks display at 10pm.

The small armada will be sailing back to Dunkirk on Thursday, May 27, a journey they only undertake once every five years. They will be accompanied by a Royal Navy frigate, HMS Monmouth, the Ramsgate RNLI lifeboat and 1923 lifeboat, William and Kate Johnston. The ships will sail out at 7am and will return back to Kent between 3pm and 4pm on Bank Holiday Monday (May 31). All times are weather dependent.

Ramsgate's famous Little Ship Sundowner is among those taking part. It has been present on the regular voyages every five years since the 50 anniversary in 1990, having arrived at the harbour in 1987, when she came under the care of the Ramsgate Maritime Museum.

Sundowner was built for the Royal Navy in 1912, and will be the oldest vessel taking part in the event this year. The harbour was the marshalling point for the Little Ships during the operation, which started after the Admiralty appealed for owners of small pleasure craft to contact them.

This led to around 700 - 800 ships being offered for the evacuation, which took place between May 28 and June 4, 1840. Ramsgate was also one of the main reception centres for the returning Allied troops.

If bad weather prevents the Little Ships from leaving on time, they will sail out the following day on Friday, May 28. To find out more about the event, visitwww.portoframsgate.co.ukor call 01843 572100. For more information about the Dunkirk Little Ships, visitwww.adls.org.ukorwww.dynamo-ramsgate.com.