SOUTH Dorset MP Richard Drax took his fight to save the Portland search and rescue helicopter to the highest level when he met with the Prime Minister.

Mr Drax, pictured, was joined at Westminster by Weymouth and Portland councillor Mike Goodman and Steve Davies, chief executive of Portland Port and Portland Harbour Authority.

It comes after the Department for Transport (DfT) made the controversial decision to axe the helicopter service on the island.

This will mean that the nearest helicopter will be Lee on Solent or Falmouth.

Following the 20 minute meeting yesterday Mr Drax said: “All three of us were pleased with the meeting – it means we have got to the top of the Government and made our point.

“The Prime Minister listened to what we had to say and was alerted by the statistical evidence we gave him.

“He can’t make any commitments and has told us that he will talk to the Secretary of State Justine Greening ahead of our meeting with her next week.”

In the bid to make the DfT perform a U-turn Mr Drax has highlighted that the decision could “cost lives” because the helicopter is likely to take much longer to attend incidents along the South Dorset coast.