THE county's first joint Police and Fire and Rescue service building has been officially opened by Lord Crathorne, Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire.

Lord Crathorne unveiled a plaque placed between the two entrances of the building near Bedale market place.

The £444,000 purpose built emergency centre in Wycar, which has been occupied for two months, offers a swifter more accessible service while reducing the running costs of both emergency groups.

Lord Crathorne said: "This joint Police, Fire and Rescue station represents a blueprint for future partnership working of the emergency services throughout North Yorkshire.

"The co-operation of the police and fire service shown here is a great advantage to the community they serve."

Chairmen of the police and the fire authorities, councillors Jane Kenyon and Geoff Rennie, North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Della Cannings and the county's Chief Fire Officer, Eric Clark, all took part in last week's official opening ceremony.

Ms Cannings said: "The people of Bedale will benefit from this move nearer the town centre, not least in terms of higher visibility of their local officers.

"The new building makes access easier and will reduce response times - and closer contact between officers and the public is good for both."

Ms Cannings also praised the positive and constructive attitude of the Fire Service to the project.

She said: "We have many common aims and similar working practices, and of course shared costs mean shared savings."

The station, which has been jointly funded, will house both shared and separate facilities.

Police officers will have a private interview room and separate male and female locker rooms.

Mr Clark was also pleased with the close working relationship of the two emergency services on the project.

He said: "This pioneering joint station provides Fire and Police officers with the facilities needed to meet the demands of modern emergency services."

Five police officers, two back-up officers and five special constables operate from the new base in Bedale.

They will work alongside a team of 12 retained fire-fighters, who attend a two-hour practice drill every week.