New high-grade optics are set to boost potentially lifesaving cover on a key stretch of Cornwall’s coast after a donation to the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) from Classic Cottages.

The Hayle-based holiday letting business has helped pay for new Fujinon stabilised long-range binoculars to help the watchkeepers at NCI Portscatho keep their eyes trained on their stretch of coastline on the Roseland Peninsula.

NCI Portscatho is one of 13 strategically placed NCI stations which play a hugely important role as the 'eyes and ears' along Cornwall's 422 miles of beautiful but equally perilous coastline.

Each is manned by a team of fully trained and dedicated volunteers who keep a daylight watch up to 365 days a year.

Watchkeepers provide a vital link with all the emergency services including HM Coastguard and can provide an emergency contact point on land for both sea and shore users.

(Image: NCI) Peter Evans, station manager at NCI Portscatho, is among a core group of some 30 volunteers who man the station.

He said: "We are very grateful to Classic Cottages for their generous support.

"Their £700 donation has allowed us to purchase new image-stabilised binoculars which are a key tool in our day-to-day operations and are already making a real difference to our ability to identify and log passing vessels.

"Having the right equipment makes all the difference in ensuring we can spot potential dangers and assist in keeping people safe along the coastline.

"The village has a long relationship with Classic Cottages and this kind of support from a local business is vital to the work of the NCI in Cornwall."

Leonie Iddison, south Cornwall area manager for Classic Cottages, which manages some 700 holiday properties in Cornwall bringing 40,000 holidaymakers to the region each year, recently visited NCI Portscatho to test out the new equipment with Classic Cottages’ marketing co-ordinator Liz Arnell.

She said: "We are proud to support the essential work of the NCI here in Cornwall.

"The coast is at the heart of what makes our area so special for visitors and residents alike.

"The NCI plays a vital role in keeping our coastline safe, and we are delighted to contribute to their efforts in ensuring the safety of those who enjoy our beautiful shores."