MORE than 3,100 have signed up to the Echo’s Save Our Lifesavers campaign.

The Echo offices have been inundated with petitions, campaign tokens and messages of support for the coastguards since the campaign was launched less than two weeks ago.

In total 3,151 signatures have been added to the petition to bring a new coastguard supercentre to the borough.

Under current government plans, which are in the second phase of consultation, Portland Coastguard station would be closed along with eight others and replaced with a supercentre or Maritime Operations Centre in either Southampton or Portsmouth.

But the plans are not set in stone and there have been indications that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council should resubmit its original plan to site the supercentre in the borough.

Five potential sites were suggested in the original letter including Osprey Quay.

As the campaign has gone from strength to strength it has hit the headlines of the BBC, Yachting Monthly and Practical Boat Owner.

Public and Commercial Services Union local representative Sarah Callaby-Brown is also a watch officer at Portland Coastguard. She said the campaign had given people hope.

She said: “It’s amazing. The reaction has been very positive. It has given us strength.

“It’s really heart-warming.

“I’d like to say thank you to the community for their support and to say please keep supporting us and helping to fight to bring this great legacy to Weymouth and Portland.”

She added: “It’s a fantastic response from the public and it shows we have a really good community spirit in the borough. It shows people feel how important it is that we retain local knowledge.”

She added that it was great to see all the petitions in the shops and hear people’s support.

Dorset Echo reporter Joanna Davis said the response had been fantastic.

She said: “We are delighted. We need people to keep supporting the campaign and tell all their friends and family, even if they don’t live in the borough but use the coastline.”

Readers can join the campaign in a number of different ways including via Facebook – search for Portland Coastguard – Save Our Lifesavers – or by following links from the Dorset Echo Facebook page.

The petition is available to download from the Echo website – or fill out the coupon and send it to the office at the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth or the Dorchester office in Antelope Walk. Readers can request a paper copy of the petition by calling Catherine Bolado on 01305 830985.

To read more Echo stories about the Save Our Lifesavers campaign visit http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/campaigns/save_our_lifesavers/