THE working partnership between police and paramedics takes another step forward today as ambulance crews move to a new base at Billingham Police Station, in Kingsway.

The Ambulance Service already has its Teesside headquarters within the Cleveland Police offices in Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough.

More recently, the two organisations have successfully integrated their emergency control rooms to improve efficiency and communication between the services.

Inspector Stuart Micklewright said: "One of the big advantages will be in terms of ambulance response times and that the crew and their equipment will be safer because of the secure environment we offer.

"We recognise we are all in the business of serving the public and this is one really effective way of doing that."