VOLUNTEERS at the National Coastwatch Institution base in Worth Matravers were not ‘shellfish’ in handing over their annual rent during a special ceremony on Monday.

Based at Worth Matravers, Dirk Aldous, the station manager of the St Albans Head branch and former Chief Constable of Dorset Police, handed over two crabs to James Gaggero, the owner of the Encombe Estate which encompasses the former coastguard lookout.

It is a tradition which has been carried out for the past two years, after Mr Gaggero bought the estate for £20million five years ago and said he would be content with one crab as a form of rent.

As a surprise, Dirk doubled the amount of ‘rent’ they paid and also presented James with a framed photo of the Crab nebula, taken from the Hubble telescope.

John Newth, from the St Albans Head station, said: “It was, Dirk said, a token of gratitude for Mr Gaggero’s interest in the station as its Patron and for his generosity towards it as our landlord.

“In accepting the rent and gifts, Mr Gaggero praised the work of the station in helping to protect local fishermen and recreational users of the inshore waters around St Albans Head.

“He emphasised that it depends on members of the public both for contributions and for volunteers to man the station.”

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) supports HM Coastguard by keeping a visual watch along UK shores.

It is made up of trained watchkeepers who assist in hundreds of potentially life-threatening incidents every year.

Everyone in NCI is a volunteer and the organisation is funded entirely by contributions from the public.

There are four stations in Dorset at St Albans Head, Swanage, Portland Bill and Lyme Bay (Burton Bradstock).