FOUR beat bobbies blazed a trail into their new premises this week, setting up a mini police office inside a rural fire station.

PCs Mick McGuire, Steve Wailes, Vince Myhan and Alison Race, together with their section Sgt John Turner, are sharing the accommodation within the retained fire station at Gas Lane in Middleton in Teesdale.

Since the early 60s, officers had been working from two rooms in a section office linked to a house in Wesley Terrace. However, when the house was sold 12 years ago, it left the office surrounded by residential accommodation and blighted by limited access and restricted parking. The move is the first time in the North-East that fire crews and police officers will work together under the same roof.

In welcoming dignitaries to the opening ceremony on Wednesday, PC Race said they were not moving far in geographical terms, but in terms of access they had moved a long way.

The chairman of Durham police authority, County Coun Joe Knox, said: "These kind of one-stop shops are very much the way forward."

Anyone wishing to contact the officers at their new venue can do so by telephoning 01833 640210.