PLANS for a £30,000 renovation of Darlington Fire Station has been delayed due to cash flow problems.

Work on the engineering project, which started in September last year, was due to take six weeks to complete, but six months later it is still not finished.

Once it is completed, firefighters' response times to emergency calls will be cut by up to three minutes.

A break in the central reservation on the inner ring road has been widened to allow fire engines to turn right instead of travelling to Feethams and doubling back.

However, due to financial difficulties, warning lights on the road have not been installed and fire engines are still using the old route.

Divisional officer at the station, Les Greenwood, said there had been a number of setbacks, but work will resume next month, at the start of the new financial year.

He said: "It has been put on hold because reports from various people have to be prepared and money has had a lot to do with it.

"My predecessor, Iain Davison, sadly died and he was the main player in the project.

"It is going to start again in April."

Under new arrangements the town's ambulance service will be housed in the grounds, on the site of a former repair workhouse.