A memorial plaque honouring the work of dockyard workers during the Falklands War has been unveiled on Portland.

The plaque was revealed by South Dorset MP Richard Drax at Portland Port to commemorate the sacrifices made by coastal teams in Dorset.

At the outbreak of the 1982 conflict, the isle's facilities were in constant demand and the first ship to depart the UK ahead of the British Task Force was RMAS Typhoon, which headed south just two days after the Argentinian invasion.

Helicopters from Portland’s Naval Air Station, HMS Osprey, were prepared for ships and carriers ready for the arduous 8,000 mile journey to the South Atlantic.

Across the dockyard, the workforce worked tirelessly ashore and on the water, at very short notice, to ready the ships for war - and their efforts contributed towards the liberation of the Falkland Islands.

Richard Drax MP said, “We are here to pay respects to the civilian and naval personnel who worked in Portland to get the fleet ready back in 1982.

"Ships were turned around in a very short space of time, what would have normally taken one or two weeks, were operational in one or two days, quite a remarkable feat by any standards.”

There also to see the unveiling were some of the original crew from RMAS Typhoon, who sailed to the Falklands.

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Paul Charles was 18 and the youngest crewmember onboard, and said: “Our destination was unknown when we set off - we believed the Argentinians would have second thoughts when they saw our ships leaving port.

"But we sailed further and further south, eventually arriving at Ascension Island, we were on our own, then other warships started to arrive.

“Typhoon was very seaworthy, she was built for sea, was a beautiful looking ship and was like a greyhound.

“This memorial is a fitting reminder of all those who fought and were part of the effort.

"It's not necessarily for me, it's for the people who are no longer with us. There's a lot that have gone now, its recognition of what they did, turning all those ships around in such a short space of time was absolutely incredible, you've got to take your hat off to them.

"A lot of the workers were not remembered, and it's rightly so that the fighting men should get the glory, but the dockyard workers have been remembered by this memorial."

Another attendee was leadin cadet, Jacob Loveless, an apprentice at Portland Port and training to become a Maritime Officer and eventually a tug captain.

“Working in Portland gives you an understanding of what those during 1982 went through," he said.

"This memorial is a recognition of the hard work by the workers in particular tug crews who played a small part with their mighty machines.”