WEYMOUTH Lifeboat Station has had to say goodbye to full-time mechanic Phil Hansford, who has moved on to another post.

He spent 20 years at Weymouth; as a volunteer crew member and then full-time mechanic.

Mr Hansford joined the lifeboat crew as a volunteer in 1999 when he was working at boat builders Caddys on Commercial Road. He continued to serve as a volunteer when he moved onto the range boats as a mechanic.

He took over as the full time RNLI mechanic on Weymouth :ifeboat in 2011.

His new job will be as a RNLI staff mechanic working on all the classes of lifeboat that the RNLI has and he will be working at any station in the country that needs his skills.

Mr Hansford, who takes up his new post later this month, said: "I have enjoyed my time at Weymouth where I have felt part of the family that is Weymouth lifeboat station but I am looking forward to the new challenges that are to come.

"I will still live in Weymouth so will still stay in contact with the station and volunteer crews."