FIRE stations could be opened to residents in part of the North-East for the first time if plans for two facilities are approved.

Consultation over County Durham's first two community fire stations, which could be built in Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland using private sector money, will begin next week.

The proposal forms part of a regional bid to secure up to £41.6m of private finance initiative funding to improve fire and rescue facilities and build a life skills centre in the region.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority wants to replace the towns' stations with modern buildings that would have conference and community training facilities.

If the plans go ahead, the Spennymoor station could be relocated within the area. The Bishop Auckland station could be near the existing site, off Watling Road.

They will provide training facilities for firefighters and multi-media rooms for community safety advice sessions with residents and employers.

As part of the relocation, one full-time appliance and a crew from Durham Fire Station will be based in Spennymoor to provide round-the-clock cover.

The town is served by two retained appliances and crew, which respond to incidents as required. One of these would be phased out.

There would be no change to the fire and rescue service provision in Bishop Auckland.

Allan Wood, area manager special projects, said: "These community stations could help us improve community safety by getting people into stations and learning.

"The changes would improve cover for the Spennymoor area with a full-time crew on site and the eight retained posts that would be decommissioned would be done through natural wastage."

The proposals were met with caution by union officials last night.

Kevin Shaw, a brigade secretary with the Fire Brigades Union, said: "I would be concerned about taking a full-time appliance from the Durham area, in effect downgrading the service there, and the loss of retained personnel at Spennymoor.

"We support links with the public and raising the profile of accident prevention, but not at the expense of intervention."

Public meetings about the plans will be held at Spennymoor Fire Station on Tuesday and Bishop Auckland Fire Station, next Wednesday, both from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.