AMATEUR radio enthusiasts contacted Russia, Switzerland and the Orkney Islands from Harwich’s High Lighthouse as part of a global radio weekend.

The Harwich Amateur Radio Interest Group put their transmitters at the top of the 90ft lighthouse on Sunday to link up with other groups from across the world in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Amateur Radio Weekend.

The event also marked the 200th birthday of Harwich’s high and low lighthouses, built in 1818 to replace earlier wooden ones.

Committee member Johnathon Mitchener said: “Last year we made more contact with other lighthouses, this time it wasn’t as strong. It depends on atmospheric conditions and sun spots and things.

“But we made some nice contacts such as with Russia and Switzerland as well as ones in the UK in Orkney and some on the south coast.

“We used various different frequencies, did some speech contact and used Morse code.”

“We highlight Harwich and gave a bit of the history of the lighthouses and Harwich about a place.

“It’s good for the town and for the Harwich Society, which runs the lighthouses.”