Adverse weather could not prevent a Portland family from hosting a community party to raise vital funds for the National Coastwatch Institution.

Undeterred by strong winds and thunderstorms Alex Boatswain and her partner Dr Peter Hill moved their garden party into St Andrew’s Church hall, Southwell, where they raised £1112 for the lookout at Portland Bill.

Motivated by a successful event last year, which saw the family raise £1025 for the marine charity, this year’s party promised more goodies, games and family fun.

Residents and watch keepers packed out the hall and tucked into the plentiful cream teas, homemade cakes, crab sandwiches and lobster wraps.

Alex, who runs a beauty salon in Fortuneswell, said: “It was a really good event, people were queueing out the door. In three hours, we managed to get rid of all our cakes and tombola prizes and raise all that money.

“The event had a feel community feel to it, people came over from Weymouth and Wyke and the watch keepers all said it was nice to enjoy an event rather than be stuck behind a stall.”

Portland Bill NCI has more than 65 highly trained volunteers giving a total of 9,417 man hours to the community each year, all of whom buy their own uniforms and claim no expenses.

With no funding from the council or government, the lookout relies entirely on public donations and fundraising events to secure the £8000 required each year just to keep the doors open.

"Coastwatch is such an important charity for our family," said Alex. "We lost a family member at sea and coastwatch was a huge part of that and continue to be the eyes and ears of the coastal area around Portland. They are vitally important, especially now that the helicopter has gone."

The highlight of the day was a private auction in which Dr Hill volunteered to sit in the stocks while guests bid for the chance to throw a cream pie in his face.

Station manager at the lookout Geoff Peters said: "This is the second year a day has been arranged to fundraise for their local coastwatch institution, and who would have thought last year’s fantastic amount could have been exceeded?

"Although, I am glad my silent big wasn’t quite the highest as I couldn’t possibly have been the one to throw a cream pie after Dr Hill helped to raise so much money for the lookout."