Residents joined the mayor of Portland for an almost two-mile walk from Underhill to Tophill in protest at the closure of a pharmacy.

As previously reported in the Echo, the walk was organised to protest against the closure of the Boots Pharmacy in Fortuneswell, scheduled for February 17.

Meeting at The Gatehouse Surgery at 10.30am on Saturday, the march followed the route that an Underhill resident receiving a prescription would need to take to get to the pharmacy in Easton on foot.

Boots CEO Sebastian James had been invited to attend but was not present.

Dorset Echo: The start of the walk at the Gatehouse SurgeryThe start of the walk at the Gatehouse Surgery (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)Dorset Echo: Brief stop outside the Boots Pharmacy in FortuneswellBrief stop outside the Boots Pharmacy in Fortuneswell (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)Dorset Echo:

Including walk marshals, around 20 people took on the almost two-mile uphill trek. Some residents who could not make the ascent met the walkers at the Gatehouse to wave them off.

Portland resident Mark Chilton-Dobson uses the pharmacy and is particularly concerned about the impact it will have on his elderly neighbours.

He said: "Closing the pharmacy will be detrimental to the community and it would be a great loss."

Clair Hackett said: "So many people rely on that pharmacy, my husband included. The Boots CEO mustn't realise it is a few miles up the hill but it's a tough climb."

Dorset Echo: Claire HackettClaire Hackett (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Resident Chris Beech is appalled by the Boots closure.

She said: "There is a definite divide between Tophill and Underhill and we need the facilities."

Dorset Echo: Chris Beech and Sue NaergerChris Beech and Sue Naerger (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Mayor Carralyn Parkes donned her mayoral chain for the ascent and gave a speech at the end. She hopes to at least delay the Fortuneswell Boots closure whilst an alternative solution can be arranged.

She said: "It is the people at the bottom who have the least that will be most impacted by the pharmacy closure. We are looking out for the most vulnerable people in our community.

"The bus has a cost. If you are a mum with two kids that needs to pick up a prescription the cost of the bus ride there and back adds up."

Dorset Echo: Group photo at the end of the walk outside the Easton BootsGroup photo at the end of the walk outside the Easton Boots (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

The pharmacy is one of just two on the island of 14,000 people. News of the closure has worried residents, who do not believe the Boots in Easton will be able to handle demand, and that the hill poses a geographic obstacle for some.

READ MORE: Residents voice anger at meeting on pharmacy closure