FIRE stations could be opened up to County Durham residents for the first time if plans for two new facilities are approved.

Consultation over the county's first two community fire stations at Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland will begin next week.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority wants to replace the towns' existing stations with modern buildings that would have conference and community training facilities.

If the proposals go ahead, the Spennymoor station would probably be relocated to a new site in the area and the Bishop Auckland station would be near to the existing site on Watling Road.

They will provide the latest training facilities for firefighters and multi-media rooms, which could be used to give community safety advice to residents and employers.

Other emergency and community services, such as the police and ambulance service, could use the rooms, and schools and businesses would be invited in for life-saving advice.

As part of the plan, one whole-time appliance and crew from Durham Fire Station will be based at Spennymoor to provide round-the-clock cover.

The town is currently served by two retained appliances and crew who respond to incidents as required - one of which would be phased out.

There would be no change to the fire and rescue service provision in Bishop Auckland.

Allan Wood, area manager special projects, said: "Fire prevention is as important a role for us as intervention and these community stations could help us improve community safety by getting people into stations and learning.

"The changes would improve cover for the Spennymoor area with a full-time crew on site and the eight retained posts that would be decommissioned would be done though natural wastage."

The public can attend consultation events at Spennymoor Fire Station on Tuesday, 6.30-8.30pm, and Bishop Auckland Fire Station on Wednesday, 6.30-8.30pm.

Information is also available from www.ddfire.gov.uk and at local fire stations and libraries from tomorrow.