NORTHUMBRIA Police have opened a new police station in the centre of Newcastle.

The new station is at the top of Forth Banks, a short distance from the Central Railway Station and Times Square.

It is open 24 hours a day and is the base for over 600 officers and police staff.

It has a 21st Century purpose-built custody suite with 50 cells, the largest in the force area, which will start taking detainees later in the year.

The new station has cost £36.26m and taken three years to complete.

It was officially opened by Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird and Chief Constable Sue Sim.

Commissioner Baird said: "It is great that Forth Banks is now open to the public helping officers provide our policing service to the public in Newcastle."

"This station will provide vital support to the officers and staff who deliver the frontline service to our communities in both Newcastle and Gateshead as well as the wider community of both regional and national visitors to this area."

Chief Constable Sue Sim said: "This building will provide an excellent base for our modern policing requirements to deliver first class policing to our communities.

"The new station replaces Pilgrim Street, which will close when officers have become established in Forth Banks."

Newcastle City Centre Police Station is a base for 24/7 response officers, major crime detectives and back office functions which support operational policing.

Neighbourhood officers have already relocated from Pilgrim Street to a base at the intu Eldon Square.