A ceremony was held to mark the permanent handover of a military helicopter on Portland.

The Lynx XZ250 helicopter, which has been on long-term loan from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton commemorating the history of the Osprey Quay site as a Naval air base, has now been gifted to remain on display at Portland Marina.

To mark the occasion, Lt Cdr Gary McCall from RNAS Yeovilton led a crew from the Royal Navy Black Cats display team to officially handover Lynx XZ250.

Lynx XZ250 helicopterLynx XZ250 helicopter (Image: Finnbarr Webster) The ceremony included a flypast, speeches and a buffet lunch at the restaurant Salt Portland.

Mayor of Portland, Sheila Miles, who attended the event, said: "It was fantastic. Despite a bit of rain ten minutes before, it was lovely clear skies. The helicopters did a display over the harbour before it was handed over officially. 

"It was a lovely simple ceremony that was professionally done.

"Portland and Weymouth will be Dorset's joint Towns of Culture 2025 and the helicopter base was a huge part of our history. This handover cements the Royal Navy's place in history here on Portland.

"What an honour it is to have it here and for the highest ranking officers in the Royal Navy to be there."

The helicopter served in the Falklands War and completed its service life after 32 years and eight days, accumulating 7,667 flying hours.

The flypast at the Navy handover of the helicopter at Portland Marina, The flypast at the Navy handover of the helicopter at Portland Marina, (Image: Finnbarr Webster) It will now remain on permanent display at Portland Marina as a testament to the site's former role as the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Osprey.

Jon Eads, area manager at Portland Marina, said: "It was great, the helicopter has been on loan to Portland Marina. We have been in conversations about securing a long-term arrangement for people to enjoy coming to see the helicopter for years to come.

"The Royal Navy agreed to transfer the helicopter over to us so it can be a museum piece for people to enjoy.

"It was a really lovely day. The Royal Navy did us proud with the flypast and we are so pleased to have it here. "