RENEWED calls to save Portland Coastguard are being made after its involvement in the search for the Purbeck Isle fishermen.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax has invited Secretary of State Justine Greening to Portland in a bid to get her to change her mind after she confirmed the coastguard’s contract will end in 2017.

Mr Drax is also calling for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency co-ordination centre, which is due to close after the Olympics, to remain open.

The helicopter, along with RNLI lifeboats, Royal Navy vessels, an American supply ship, NCI at Portland and Lee-On-Solent coastguard, took on a three-day search for the missing fishermen last week.

Mr Drax said: “What this incident has highlighted is that it’s terribly important that we retain the Portland Coastguard helicopter and control centre.

“For many hours over three days local crews covered a vast area of sea. I think it just highlights the significance of what we have and how important it is to retain it.

“Although the lifeboat did a marvellous job, it can’t possibly cover the sort of area a helicopter can.

“I have invited the Secretary of State to Dorset again, to speak to the professionals and listen to what they have to say.”

It was revealed in February that the contract for the service, which scaled a large area of sea during last week’s search for David McFarlane, Robert Prowse and Jack Craig, would not be renewed.

Around 20 jobs will be lost from the operation if Miss Greening’s decision sticks.

A search and rescue helicopter from Lee-On-Solent will be called to emergencies in the area.

Mr Drax added: “I am very hopeful that Miss Greening will change her mind.

“The weight of opinion is so strong that we should retain the helicopter here, she will be left with no choice but to keep it.”

The search for the three Purbeck Isle fishermen was halted after sonar equipment located the boat 50 metres down about 10 miles off Portland Bill with its life raft still onboard.

The discovery dashed hopes that the men had managed to get into the raft and were awaiting rescue.

David McFarlane’s body is still the only one to have been recovered from the sea.

Dave Pitman, chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Association said: “My personal opinion and that of the association is that we need the Portland Coastguard service to stay here for both leisure and commercial boating.

“I know they say it only takes a certain number of minutes for the helicopter to get here from Lee-On-Solent – but a few minutes can make the difference between a life saved and a fatality.”

Mr Drax added that he hoped to speak during this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions to pass on condolences to the families of the Purbeck Isle fishermen but not to concentrate on the helicopter campaign.

He said: “My aim is to send condolences to the families whose story has touched the hearts of many others.”