A TRAINING week testing out counter pollution equipment is being held on Portland.

The week-long training, which began on Monday, is being held by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and will see tests of counter pollution kit on the shoreline, at sea, in the harbour area and in the air.

Equipment which would be used in the event of pollution in UK waters includes offshore booms and skimmers, which remove oil from the sea surface, and specialist oil containment kits.

Other organisations taking part in the training include Portland Port, HM Coastguard contractors and Marine Management Organisation.

Exercise director Jerry Connors, from HM Coastguard, said: "We continue to carry out training at this level because we know how vital it is if we need to react to a real incident at any time.

"Training in this kind of environment helps to familiarise everyone with the equipment and build the kind of relationships between groups and organisations that will matter even more if the worst should happen."