WORK starts today on a long-awaited £2m police station near the centre of Spennymoor.

The two-storey, slate-fronted building next door to Spennymoor Leisure Centre will replace a red-brick Edwardian police station in Dundas Street.

It will more than double the size of the old building, which was opened in 1906 at a cost of £2,600.

The building, which was designed by Darlington architects Niven and Nivena and built by Keir Northern, from Ferryhill, is due to open in October.

For several years, Spennymoor has been in line for a new police station to house its 56 police officers and six civilian support staff.

The Dundas Street premises are surrounded by houses and there are problems with access, security and parking.

The top floor can only be used for storage because it would need expensive renovation work to comply with fire regulations.

Closed-circuit television will cover the new building. Officers will work on the ground floor and the first floor will be mainly open plan.

There will be adaptable space to provide a classroom, conference room and major incident room. An improved custody suite includes five cells.

Durham Constabulary's Chief Constable, George Hedges, and police authority chairman Joe Knox will use a silver spade to cut the first turf on the site at 10am today.

Mr Hedges said: "It indicates our joint commitment to keeping police offices open and providing a visible police presence at the heart of our communities."

Councillor Knox said: "This will bring us closer to the community, which is what we're all about."