WORK on the construction of a new fire station is set to be paused as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Workers are still on the site of the station in St Cuthbert’s Way, where they are demolishing the old building.

It is hoped that the new station would be built this year, with the fire service expected to move back in before Christmas.

But because of the pandemic, work on the site will be paused and at this point, it is not known when work will resume or when the new station will be completed.

John Hancock, the estates manager for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said supply chain issues and government guidance was making it difficult to continue work.

Mr Hancock said: "The current situation is that once the demolition of the old fire station is completed, the construction of the new fire station may have to be temporarily suspended.

"We would like to reassure the people of Darlington that both County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and Tolent Construction remain committed to completing this build as soon as possible, however currently, due to supply chain issues and the government guidance, we may have to take the sensible decision to temporarily suspend the project.

“I would also like to reassure our communities across County Durham and Darlington we have not changed the way we respond to incidents and emergencies.

"The temporary accommodation we have in place was designed to house our operational crews and fire appliances for a number of months throughout 2020 and we are confident that this accommodation will provide our workforce with adequate facilities for a little longer than planned.

“At this point, if the works are temporarily suspended, we do not have a date when works will recommence as this will be governed by future government guidance.”

All that remains of the old station is a pile of rubble.

Work to rebuild the 50-year-old station started in February, with removal of asbestos from the building and demolition expected to take about 12 weeks.

It was last refurbished in 2009 but a decision was made to demolish it as work needed to bring it up to standard was expensive and problematic.

Crews are currently being accommodated in a building at the back of the site, while the North East Ambulance Service, which was also based there, has moved to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Both emergency services will work from the new station when it is completed.