Chester-le-Street's new ambulance station could help crews to arrive at emergencies faster.

The new station has been built in the town's new community hospital, which is nearing completion, and replaces the base a few hundred yards away that has been used for 50 years.

Simon Featherstone, chief executive of the North-East Ambulance Trust, said the station would come into operation next week.

"The access and egress will be a lot better than at the old station.

"We can get straight out onto the roundabout and go in four different directions. Hopefully we'll shave some precious seconds off our response times."

Mr Featherstone said it would provide more modern facilities for the 22 staff who comprise eight paramedics, nine advanced technicians and five care assistants.

The station will be home to two emergency vehicles and four patient transport vehicles.

Mr Featherstone said: "Some staff will be on standby at various points away from the station where we think they will be needed."

In the last year Chester-le-Street's handled 5,306 calls.

The station was opened by Professor George Alberti, the national director for Emergency Access.