A FORMER Weymouth charter boat skipper-turned-author has published a book about his seafaring adventures - and the profits have all been donated to the town's RNLI lifeboat station.

Paul Whittall is a familiar face at Weymouth Harbour having been a charter boat skipper for 40 years in the town - and his biographic tome, From Army Brat to Seadog, is gaining rave reviews from readers on Amazon.

The book is part coming-of-age story, part adventure novel and takes readers on a journey out to sea with plenty of laughs along the way.

In one particularly hairy encounter in 1992, Mr Whittall recalls how he and his crew came under live gun fire from HMS Southampton.

He met with Weymouth lifeboat coxswain Andy Sargent and volunteer deputy second coxswain Lyle Stantiford to hand over the funds from the book.

Mr Whittall said: "I'm delighted to be able to support the lifeboat - a source of inspiration to me and a cause close to my heart.

"It has been a particularly challenging year for the crew as donations have fallen - we all have a lot to be grateful for and we must continue to remember the important contribution the lifeboat makes in our community."

Lifeboat coxswain Andy Sargent said: "This year has put paid to face-to face fundraising events, and has also been quite tough due to a number of tragic incidents in which people have lost their lives at sea or were seriously injured."

Paul Whittall owned several charter boats including 'Purbeck Star And Vanishing Trick' during the 1980s, and Offshore Rebel 1, 2, 3 and 4, between 1987 and 2017. He now spends much of his time in Thailand with his wife.

He has previously spoken to the Echo about strict lockdown measures in Phuket and decided to write about his tales due to being confined indoors there.

A second book is now in the works and will feature artwork by William John Coughlan, revered for his depictions of fishing scenes. Sadly, the artist, who Paul said was notoriously shy, passed away just two days before his first exhibition was held in London.

From Army Brat to Seadog is available on Amazon in paperback and as an e-book.