Sir Oliver Letwin was not too tired after the general election to fulfill his engagement to open Lyme Bay National Coastwatch Institution Charmouth satellite station.

He was at the new station at 10.15 on Saturday at the Charmouth station, which has been providing a weekend and bank holiday service since May 2016.

It is based in a Napoleonic lookout just above the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre and provides complementary support to the main Lyme Bay NCI station at Burton Bradstock, covering the inshore sea area between West Bay and Lyme Regis.

The ceremony was attended by Angus Campbell, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, John Young, High Sheriff of Dorset, Jennifer Coombs, Lyme Bay NCI chairman and former High Sheriff of Dorset, Sir Philip Williams, senior members of NCI and the emergency services.

NCI provides eyes along the coast, monitoring maritime radio channels and maintaining a listening watch.

Visual surveillance monitors seaborne vessels and vulnerable activities such as wind surfing and kayaking.

Locally, watchkeepers, who are all volunteers, also provide a service to members of the public advising on walking routes, tides and general sea conditions.

The NCI maintains close contact with HM Coastguard, reporting any emergences and, if required, co-ordinates with search and rescue services such as the RNLI at Lyme Regis.

The lookout was built in 1804 by the Customs and Excise Service against the backdrop of the Napoleonic threat and smuggling.

The lookout was used throughout the 19th century by the Excise and Coastguard services which were taken over by the Admiralty in 1856.

It ceased being used as an observation post in 1909 and Charmouth Parish Council took over the lookout in 1945 and it has more recently been used as a beach hut.