POLICE on Portland are leaving their island home after 100 years of fighting crime from their station.

The move marks the end of a century of police tradition. They have kept a watchful eye on the island from their Castle Road station since 1904. An older station next door dates back even further - to the end of the 19th century.

From Monday, west Weymouth and Portland police section will be at purpose-built premises next to Dorset Police's new western divisional headquarters at Chafey's Lake on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth.

Portland will also have three bobbies and three mobile patrol officers based at a new station on the island. The station at Southwell Business Park is also due to be up and running by Monday.

West Weymouth and Portland section head, inspector Tony Rudd, said: "This is a historic occasion for all the officers, as the station has been here for nearly 100 years. Portland is a wonderful place to work and, naturally, there are feelings of sadness about leaving.

"However, we have a responsibility to a bigger area and there are strong arguments for having a more central location. "There is also the advantage of being close to facilities at the new divisional headquarters. I can understand that people are concerned, but Portland will not be forgotten."

More bobbies on the beat and a crackdown on drug dealers are promised over the next year and police are confident of an improvement in services.

Inspector Rudd said: "We will be increasing the amount of time officers spend on foot patrol and people will notice more bobbies on the beat.

"We will also be targeting drug dealers, but this is not an issue we can tackle alone - we need the public's support to make a difference."

Policing boundaries are due to change within the next few weeks. The West Weymouth and Portland section will cover Littlemoor, Upwey and Preston from Chafey's Lake, leaving east Weymouth to focus on the town centre.

Police officers have also said goodbye to cleaner Barbara Burden, who has retired after 11 years working at the station on Portland. New phone numbers will soon be introduced, but for now any calls should be directed to the Weymouth inquiry office on (01305) 220512.