THE Shadow Transport Minister fears Portland Coastguard could be in danger of losing its vital rescue helicopter service.

Conservative MP Eric Pickles has challenged Transport Minister Stephen Byers on the future of Dorset's island-based rescue aircraft.

In Parliamentary questions tabled at Westminster, the Brentwood and Ongar MP demanded to know when the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) helicopter contract at Portland expires, and whether the MCA intends to sign a new contract soon.

Mr Pickles also asked what plans there are to upgrade helicopter facilities at the former Royal Naval Air Station, now known as Osprey Quay.

He said: "My remit is to maintain an interest in matters of safety and the sea and I wanted to find out what is happening with the Portland helicopter."

Mr Pickles' queries follow speculation that the MCA will transfer Portland's helicopter to Lee-on-Solent in Hampshire, or axe the service altogether.

Rumours have been further fuelled by a delay in building a new helicopter hangar and facilities at Osprey Quay. The MCA was due to sign a contract with the Regional Development Agency (RDA), which owns the site, last autumn.

Bruce Voss, the RDA's principal regeneration manager for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, said: "Plans have been made to build a new facility but we have yet to receive final confirmation that the MCA wants to go ahead."

South Dorset MP Jim Knight is also concerned about the delay.

He said: "I have written to the MCA because they are being somewhat tardy in getting on with the project development at Osprey Quay."

Former South Dorset MP Ian Bruce has claimed that cost-cutting could see the Marine Coastguard Agency forced to remove some helicopters from patrols in certain areas.

Mr Bruce said: "The Government has told the MCA to shave £3 or £4 million off its budget and the MCA keeps dragging its feet over this contract with the RDA.

"I think it is reviewing whether or not to keep the helicopter at Portland. They might decide to run it from Lee-on-Solent or get rid of it completely."

But a national coastguard spokesman, based in Southampton, said the helicopter was safe and dismissed the speculation.