Unions lobby over Brixham coastguard closure plan

Under the plans Brixham will close and Falmouth will cease 24-hour cover

Union leaders representing coastguard workers at Brixham in Devon say they are determined to keep fighting against the threat of closure of its station.

Under moves to cut the UK's stations from 18 to eight, Brixham will shut and Falmouth will end 24-hour cover.

Coastguard watch assistant Les Jenkin, of the PCS Union, described a meeting on Tuesday with shipping minister Mike Penning as "amenable".

"We are determined to carry on and make our feelings heard," he said.

Mr Jenkin, who has worked at Brixham for 15 years, said support among the public in Devon and Cornwall since news of the closure plan became public, had been "superb".

He said the proposal to close Brixham was "unbelievable" when it was one of the four busiest stations in the UK.

Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes, said the meeting with Mr Penning was constructive.

"My impression was that the minister was listening to what they had to say," she said.

Consultation on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency plans will end on 24 March.