THE region's first "one-stop shop" police and fire station has been hailed as the way forward for emergency services in the North-East.

The new police and fire centre, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, is the first of its kind in the region and only the second in England and Wales.

Opened yesterday, the station will see fire crews and police officers working alongside each other. The move is expected to encourage greater cooperation between the two 999 services.

Four Teesdale beat bobbies - PCs Mick McGuire, Steve Wailes, Vince Myhan and Alison Race - will operate from the newly-built fire station, along with Section Sergeant John Turner.

The former village police station, which has operated from Wesley Terrace since the early 1960s, will be offered for sale.

The chairman of Durham Police Authority, county councillor Joe Knox, said: "The emergency services share common interests. This ideal arrangement is a fine example of mutual support which, at the same time, is in the best interests of the community.

"These one-stop shops are very much the way forward."

Durham County councillor Gordon Tennant, who is chairman of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority, said: "We're trying to work together with other councils, it's very much about stopping petty quarrels and niggles, and to start working with district councils until we get it right.

"I'm sure this sort of partnership as we see here today will happen elsewhere in County Durham."

The two emergency services will continue to operate separately, despite working under the same roof.

PC Race said: "We will continue to offer the same level of policing as we did from our former base, and as always, we would encourage people to drop in to the station if they want to speak to an officer."

The Middleton-in-Teesdale Police and Fire Station, in Gas Lane, can be contacted on (01833) 640210.