WORK began yesterday on a community emergency resource centre which could be the forerunner for others in remote areas of the UK.

The first turf was cut to mark the beginning of the construction of a £250,000 24-hour ambulance station at Bainbridge, in Wensleydale.

As well as bays for three vehicles and purpose-built facilities for the paramedics, the building includes room for a police car and a separate wing for community workers, the Dales and Farm Watch networks and the Swaledale Fell Rescue team.

The chief executive of the Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas), Jayne Barnes, said: "I think it's a particularly exciting project, in that there will be facilities for a whole range of rural community groups and organisations, including a training room for our growing army of community first-responders. It's better placed strategically, which should help shave vital seconds off our response times.

"Furthermore, it will be a much more comfortable base for our staff.

"They have waited so long and are delighted to see the JCBs here. It will mean a lot to them and to the people of the Dales to have this building."

In return for garage space for a police car in Bainbridge, the ambulance service has been offered secure parking for stand-by vehicles in Leyburn. Until now, crews have had to park on the town's market place.

The community resource wing of the new building - built with £40,000 donated by development agency Yorkshire Forward, North Yorkshire County and Richmondshire District Council and the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust - has its own entrance and includes a meeting room and office space.

The parish forum clerk, who serves seven parishes in the area, community fire wardens and an outreach worker from the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership will also be among those with access to the facilities.

"I'm delighted the ambulance service has taken up the idea," said Wensleydale councillor John Blackie.

"This could be a prototype for other emergency services' stations. I'd like to see them fully involved with their local communities.

"But, first and foremost, it means peace of mind for people who are a long way from a hospital.

"Three years ago, we didn't have 24-hour cover. Now we do and, nine months from now, we will have a new ambulance station."