Chester-le-Street's new ambulance station could help crews to arrive at emergencies faster.

The station has been built in the town's new community hospital, which is nearing completion, and replaces the base a few hundred yards away that has been used for 50 years.

Simon Featherstone, chief executive of the North-East Ambulance Trust, said the station would come into operation next week.

He said: "The access and egress will be a lot better than at the old station.

"They can get straight out on to the roundabout and go in four different directions.

"Hopefully, we'll shave some precious seconds off our response times.''

Mr Featherstone said it would provide better, more modern facilities for the 22 staff, who include eight paramedics, nine advanced technicians and five care assistants.

The station will be home to two emergency vehicles and four patient transport vehicles.

Mr Featherstone said: "Some staff will be on standby at various points away from the station where we think they will be needed. We have computer software that predicts where the next serious incident is likely to be.''

In the past year, Chester-le-Street's emergency crews handled 5,306 calls. Their area stretches as far as Washington and Gateshead and can include Stanley and Consett, if crews there are busy.

The station was officially opened by Professor Sir George Alberti, the national director for Emergency Access.