A WEYMOUTH supermarket has joined a campaign to upgrade a vital coastal lookout operation on Portland.

The Weymouth branch of Asda has donated a colour television to the National Coastwatch Institution at Portland Bill.

The TV will be used in a fundraising campaign to rebuild the Portland lookout, which was built in 1939.

The NCI monitors Weymouth and Portland waters, providing a coastal lookout for the coastguard, which is based inland.

Ships, private yachts, divers, beach-goers cliff-top climbers and hikers, are monitored.

The branch consists of 60 unpaid volunteers who man the Portland base in daylight hours every day.

A campaign was launched in May to provide a 360 degree glass viewing tower and advanced communications equipment.

NCI Portland controller Peter Nevill said: "We are looking for £30,000 to refit the building so we can carry out our 365-day-a-year watches more efficiently.

"We monitor one of the most dangerous coastlines in the UK and have always been totally reliant on donations. That is why the special support from Asda is so important. The television will be used in a raffle."