A DURHAM dale's last surviving police station was officially reopened this week, keeping neighbourhood bobbies in the heart of village communities.

A deal struck between police and Stanhope Community Association rescued the 130-year-old Stanhope Police Station and answered fears that the force was quitting the dale.

The association bought the Victorian-built High Street property from Durham Constabulary, who are leasing back a fifth of the space as a base for beat officers and mobile patrols.

The newly modernised police office is equipped with the latest technology and provides a home for Weardale beat sergeant John Curtis and eight constables as well as volunteer parish constable Michelle Robson.

At the same time digital technology is improving radio communications for the team, who moved into a temporary office in the Durham Dales Centre while improvements were carried out.

The chairman of Durham Police Authority, Coun Anne Wright, opened the station on Monday. She said rumours that Weardale would lose a police presence had been unfounded.

She said: "The police authority are committed to community policing and community based police officers.

"Wherever possible we will work in partnership to provide good accommodation for our officers and for members of the public to visit."

Durham chief constable Paul Garvin added: "It is a really good base in the dale which is where we belong and where we want to be."

The chairman of Stanhope Parish Council Harry Irwin said: "We were worried for a long time about what was going to happen to our police station so we are happy that this has come to fruition.

"The main thing is that it is a prominent position where everybody can see it. It is already being well used by both the police and members of the public."

The community association occupies the rest of the building, including the village's old courthouse, and youth club members have helped with renovations.

There are rooms for meetings and training as well as for young people's activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and a long-running outdoor activities project.