BUILDERS are about to start work on a £1.8m police station near Spennymoor town centre.

The two-storey slate-fronted development next to Spennymoor Leisure Centre, will replace the town's red-brick Edwardian station in Dundas Street.

Divisional commander Superintendent Derek Hall said the move to new premises would be welcomed.

All staff working at Dundas Street would be switched to the new building, he said.

Superintendent Hall, who is based at Newton Aycliffe, said: "As far as police officers, support staff and the public of Spennymoor are concerned, the new station is long overdue.

"The new location in Weslyan Road will be more central, more functional and more accessible."

A buyer is already being sought for the old building, and experts from Beamish Museum have expressed an interest in dismantling and reconstructing part of the Dundas Street cells.

The old three-storey station, which was opened in 1906 at a cost of £2,600, is 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 an expensive refurbishment to comply with fire regulations.

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

There will be five cells, as well as adaptable space to provide a classroom, conference room and major incident room