A theatre in Weymouth is lit up in blue and gold to mark the 30th anniversary of a life-saving service. 

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has 60 lookouts all around the coast and is run by volunteer watchkeepers. When people find themselves in trouble, the NCI are there to alert the coastguard and direct the appropriate emergency and rescue services to them.

In celebration of 30 years of coastwatch volunteers' contribution towards saving lives at sea, the Pavilion Theatre lit up in blue and gold on Tuesday, July 23. It will continue to shine out across the Jurassic coast until this Sunday, July 28. 

A commemorative flag has also been travelling from station to station, moving every day by various means of transport, a distance of over 2,000 miles.

READ MORE: Flag relay across Dorset coast marks important work of NCI

It was Portland’s turn on July 15, to receive the flag from Lyme Bay and then get it to St Albans Head, Worth Matravers on the following day. 

The Portland convoy was started by the Mayor of Portland, along with the Deputy Mayor and two ‘Portland Pirates’. The convoy of watchkeepers was led on a trishaw, pedalled by a watchkeeper, with the station manager and Operations Manager onboard.

The flag which is now more than half way around the stations and will be presented to HRH The Princess Royal to be exhibited at Trafalgar House, London in September.