The remarkable Dockyard naval crest wall will be restored to its former glory, according to the West End Development Corporation (WEDCO).

The crests, which date back many years, were last touched-up in 1996 and desperately need a new paint job.

WEDCO development manager Ed Williams has vowed that the paintwork, which was created by sailors from visiting vessels painting their ships' crests onto a wall which stretches for hundreds of yards, will be refinished."We definitely want to maintain the crest wall," he said. "It's not something that's lost to WEDCO.

"The problem is we have been looking for the right vehicle to put in place to do so."

Several years ago, said Mr. Williams, an attempt was made to form an organisation that would be known as the Friends of Dockyard, a volunteer group much like the volunteer arm of the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

Now WEDCO wants to re-establish that organisation. "It's a matter of finding someone to head up the group," said Mr. Williams. "That's the greatest challenge."

However, he said, WEDCO is certainly committed to ensuring the naval crest wall is maintained. "Even if we have to re-establish the crests on another wall we will do so," he said. "They are part of our history."

In 1996 the students of Warwick Academy repainted the emblems, considered one of the finest collections in the world, as one of their yearly Random Acts of Kindness.

However, seven years later, the crests are fading once more. "It's kind of sad, they are a part of our heritage," said Steve Thompson, who headed up the Warwick Academy proceedings at the time. "We were hoping that whole area would be beautified by now."

Warwick Academy's efforts were "a wonderful exercise," said Mr. Williams.