WE WILL continue to fight to save Portland helicopter- that’s the message from campaigners as the Government announces its new helicopter contract.

The Department for Transport announced today that it had signed a contract with American-based company Bristow Helicopters Ltd to provide search and rescue helicopter services in the UK.

Under the new contract, 22 state-of-the-art helicopters will operate from 10 locations around the UK and all bases will be operational 24 hours a day.

This will include 10 AW189 helicopters from Yeovil-based AgustaWestland. These will operate, two per site, from Lee-on-Solent and other bases around the UK.

But government officials stated that Portland coastguard helicopter was still facing the axe in 2017.

Government officials said the new helicopters will be able to reach a larger area of the UK search and rescue region within one hour of take off than is currently possible – getting to incidents faster.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Our search and rescue helicopter service plays a crucial role, saving lives and providing assistance to people in distress on both land and on sea.

“With 24 years of experience providing search and rescue helicopter services in the UK, the public can have great confidence in Bristow and their ability to deliver a first class service with state-of-the-art helicopters.”

Campaigners have called the decision to remove Portland’s helicopter ‘disappointing’ and ‘ludicrous’ and are urging people to sign the petition to save it.

Roger Macpherson from save Portland helicopter group said they would continue fighting to save the service until the base was ‘bulldozed to the ground.’ He called the axing of Portland a ‘retrograde step.’ He said: “It’s quite obvious we do need a base in this area.

“We will definitely continue fighting.”

He added: “We are not politically motivated, we are concerned ordinary people in the area who think it’s ludicrous to remove a service that is a safety net for people that come here to enjoy the facilities.”

Mr Macpherson pointed to the busy shipping lanes, the fact the Portland helicopter was called out to help in rescues as far as south Wales and Cornwall and the increase in activities along the coast due to the Olympic legacy as all important factors in retaining the service.

But he said one positive of the new contracts was that they had gone to AgustaWestland as it will keep jobs in the UK and in the local area.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ at the government’s decision to remove Portland helicopter in 2017.

He said: “We have campaigned tirelessly on points of fact and these have been continually ignored.

“Sadly as a consequence, it’s my view and the view of many others that the loss of the helicopter will lead to more deaths.”

He added: “I shall continue to fight on in the hope that between now and 2017 we can somehow convince the government to change its mind.

“Although on past experience I’m not confident that will happen.”

TO sign up to the petition to Save the Portland helicopter visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36619