ONE of the long-serving watch-keepers from the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) station at St Alban's Head has been honoured with a retirement lunch.

Mike Hornby, who retired after 18 years of watch-keeping, was a key member of the small team that manned the lookout near Worth Matravers.

Mike said much of his enjoyment of watch-keeping came from the lookout's location, commanding a stunning view from St Catherine's Point to Portland Bill.

He added that the view "seems to make people happy."

At the lunch in his honour Mike received a glass tankard inscribed 'NCI St Albans Head: Mike Hornby, in recognition of 18 years of dedicated watch-keeping'

There was also a bouquet of flowers for his wife, Yvonne, who has supported Mike and, in recent years, often accompanied him on his watches.

The NCI supports HM Coastguard by keeping a visual watch along UK's shores.

A spokesman for the organisation said: "Our trained watch-keepers assist in hundreds of potentially life-threatening incidents every year.

"Everyone in NCI is a volunteer and the organisation is funded entirely by contributions for the public."

There are four NCI stations in Dorset - St Alban's Head, Peveril Point, Portland Bill and Lyme Bay.