The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has pledged to open at least five Coastal Surveillance stations a year to replace Coastguard lookouts which closed in the early nineties.

Twenty-one stations are already fully operational, with five in the pipeline for early 1999, and the Institution aims to have sixty active statios by the end of 2001.

Manned by 1,300 trained volunteers the NCI provides an important visual link with the emergency services and Met Office.

Applications to become a volunteer are welcomed. Call Steve Owen on 01548 521527 for details.