A SHIP docking in Portland is to host a travel agents' conference to attract more tourists to a remote British island.

The Royal Mail Ship St Helena arrived at Portland Port on Saturday for a three-day stay and will be hosting the conference to generate interest in the South Atlantic Island of St Helena.

The travel agents will descend on the ship tomorrow when there will also be tapestries on show from six schools on the island.

St Helenian Shipping Service general manager Bill Langworthy said: "At the moment the island is not developed and there are only 3,500 people living there.

"That is all going to change though, with a new airport complex to be built over the next five years.

"Construction on a runway is due to start at the end of next year and when it is all finished the island will have 737s and Airbus A320s landing there.

"Now is the time to go and take advantage of the island before it changes."

Representatives from 50 smaller and independent travel agents in the South and West will attend the conference. There will also be a cabinet minister from St Helena at the reception on board.

Mr Langworthy added: "The St Helena is the lifeline for the islanders. We take out everything they need from Mars Bars to road tar and JCBs.

"With Christmas approaching we will be taking out a lot of Christmas goodies such as presents, crackers and Christmas cake.

"We only come to Portland when we return to the UK. There are deep waters, great facilities and we have an excellent rapport with the port authority."

The ship serves as a cargo and passenger ship and can carry 128 passengers onboard.

It usually makes two trips to the UK each year where it docks at Portland.

The RMS St Helena is one of the last working Royal Mail ships and offers cruises to the remote tropical islands of St Helena and Ascension via the South West African coastline and ports en route.

The ship is managed and operated by Andrew Weir Shipping on behalf of St Helena Line Ltd and is on her first trip back to the UK after a 12-month gap.