A WEYMOUTH hotel is throwing its support behind a fund to raise money for the families left behind after a fishing tragedy.

The Royal Hotel on Weymouth seafront is one of more than 160 collection points in the county for the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund.

The charity, is spearheaded by the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Assoc-iation, was set up in the wake of the loss of the fishing boat Purbeck Isle.

The boat went out on May 17 but did not return. The body of skipper David McFarlane, 35, was recovered but crewmen Robert Prowse, 20, and Jack Craig, 22, are still missing.

Business and community members have rallied round to support the fund, which aims to help the families and children of the three men.

Royal Hotel manager Hannah Bradford said it was important to help the families of the fishermen.

She said: “It is an absolute tragedy.

“We wanted to do as much as we could to help in any way possible.

“The collection tin is quite full so far but we want to try and get more.

“There are already a few notes and it’s filling up. It’s really important to support the families and friends of the Purbeck Isle crew.”

Assistant manager Kelly Hayes said the community had rallied round and the collection was going well.

She said: “We’ve been impressed by how much people are helping out. In Weymouth people always rally round. There’s a good community spirit.”

Other places people can donate include Weyfish, Weymouth Angling Centre, Weymouth Beach Cafe, the Sailors Return, King’s Arms, Nothe Tavern, Orange Cider Bar, and the Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton.

People can also send cash or cheques marked Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund to the Dorset Echo offices either on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth, Antelope Walk in Dorchester or East Street in Bridport.

Or they can be posted to Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund Appeal, Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9XD.

To pay by credit card, visit dorset echo.co.uk/donate If you would like to discuss fundraising ideas with the Wey-mouth and Portland Licensed Fisher-men’s and Boatmen’s Association, you can email them at purbeck islememorialfund@gmail.com or go to the Sailors Return, St Nicholas Street, Weymouth.