The government has announced that it has watered down its plans to modernise the coastguard.

Eight stations are being closed, but the remaining 10 will all stay open 24 hours a day.

Previously ten of the 18 stations were to be shut down and only three were to be open around the clock, but those proposals were met with a backlash.

Transport secretary Philip Hammond told parliament yesterday that the stations at Falmouth, Milford Haven, Holyhead, Belfast, Stornoway, Shetland, Aberdeen and the Humber will be retained.

And there will also be a maritime operations centre near Portsmouth and Southampton, replacing the Solent station, and a back-up facility at Dover.

The stations at Swansea, Brixham, Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth and the Thames will all be closed starting from next year.

A 12-week consultation, ending on October 6, will now take place on the changes to the plan.

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