The Rotary Club of Bridport is delighted that its donation of £2,177 has enabled the West Bay Discovery Centre to purchase a new digital microscope.

The money needed to reach the target was handed to John West, trustee of the Bridport Area Development Trust, by Bernard Paull and Chrissie Bailey from the Bridport Rotary Club.

The microscope can enlarge objects using two simple magnifying and focussing controls. In seconds any small object can be seen magnified many times. It is already proving a major attraction to the young visitors in West Bay. Fossils, pebbles, feathers and plants are just a few of the specimens available to view and visitors to the Centre can take along their own objects for viewing.

The club's contribution is made up entirely from money donated by a number of local firms into the club's business partners scheme. This money is ring-fenced and generally supports local youth projects. As this project falls into this category, it has been funded entirely from that scheme.

Club President, Bernard Paull, said: "It's pleasing to know that with the generosity of our business partners we have helped the local multi-award-winning discovery centre acquire this wonderful new attraction."

Trustee, John West said: "We are really grateful to the Bridport Rotary and supporting businesses for their help in making this fantastic new addition to the centre possible. Our other contributors to this initiative include Waitrose, The Fine Foundation and Bridport Car Boot Fund."