THERE are new fears for the future of Dorset’s coastguard helicopter after plans for a new search-and-rescue project were suspended.

The news comes just four months after coastguards celebrated a major deal that they said secured the future of the search and rescue service in Portland.

But the government has scrapped the £7 billion scheme for a new fleet of helicopters as part of its programme to reduce he national deficit.

The island’s “new generation” aircraft is one of 24 Sikorsky S92As due to be used by coastguards around the country.

Portland’s new helicopter was due to be delivered by private consortium Soteria, which is taking over the helicopter contract from the Ministry of Defence from 2012.

Coastguard sector manager Rob Sansom said: “I haven’t heard anything officially at this stage, but I’m hoping they’re just taking stock of things.

“I don’t believe we’ll be left without a helicopter.

“As far as I know there’s nothing set in stone yet. I think they have just put things on hold while they’re investigating.”

A Department of Transport spokeswoman said that no decisions had been made about which individual areas will be affected by the proposed cuts.

“The Treasury is carrying out an urgent review looking at the problem as a whole,” she said.

The helicopter project is one of 12 projects being suspended for a government review.