FISHERMEN are demanding action from the Coastguard to man its tower at Shoebury 24 hours a day.

They spoke out after Leigh fisherman Colin Dolby was declared lost at sea after his boat, the Louisa, sank in gale force winds last Monday.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency admitted its tower was not manned last Monday, despite the weather forecast, but pointed out it took immediate action to help find Mr Dolby when the alarm was raised.

Fisherman Paul Munns, 44, of Picasso Way, Shoebury, said: “The tower was built about ten or 15 years ago and, given the amount spent on it, I think it should be manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is there to keep watch over one of the busiest estuaries in the world, which will get even busier when the new container port, close to London, is built.

“I’m not sure if it would have saved Colin Dolby, but at least they would have raised the alarm earlier. His boat would have been right under their nose just before it sank, so why wasn’t the tower manned?”

The Marine and Coastguard Agency said the part-time staff are only paged to staff the tower, by the local headquarters at Walton-on-the-Naze, when they are needed.

Spokeswoman Fiona Warren added: “When the local staff were paged they first searched the area, checked with the lifeboat station and checked moorings and beaches throughout the area.

“The agency is constantly monitoring the whole area, using the technology it has 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”