Firefighters temporarily move from historical base

Firefighters will move out of a town's oldest fire station for four weeks so essential work can be carried out.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue will move crews from the Mounts in central Northampton to Mereway on the edge of town.

The Mounts fire station in Upper Mounts opened on the site of a former jail on 30 July 1935.

Area Manager for Response Mick Berry said: "We want to reassure the public that there will be no reduction in the number of crews covering the Northampton area. We are still able to respond as usual."

The Mounts station had its facade restored earlier this year.

Some of the Bath stone used in the original construction was worked on, with repairs also carried out on a Northampton crest above the bay doors.

The work taking place over the next month includes urgent electrical upgrades that cannot be carried out safely while the crews are operating from the building, the service said.

Northamptonshire Police will increase its presence near the building.

Mr Berry said: "This is urgent and necessary work that we cannot complete safely with our staff still in the building, so I am pleased that we have the right plans in place to relocate our crews."

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