The Fire Brigades Union has opposed the move

The location of seven centres was revealed on Wednesday by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

But discussions are still continuing over the South East centre, which will cover Hants, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Surrey, Berks, Oxon, Bucks and Kent.

Officials said they hoped to make an announcement soon on its location.

The plan for regional centres has provoked opposition from the Fire Brigades Union, which said staff in the large regional centres would not have necessary local knowledge and lives would be put at risk.

Some fire authorities have also questioned the cost implications.

Making the announcement on Wednesday, ODPM Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP said: "There is a compelling need to modernise and rationalise the control rooms in England, as part of the overall modernisation agenda."

He said the experience of the terrorist attacks in London showed the need for large centres to coordinate any response to large-scale events.