WORK has started on a £250,000 extension to Bradford on Avon fire station to enable the police to move in.

Councillors backed plans to join the two forces, so that the police were more visible in the town centre.

Wiltshire divisional commander Chief Superintendent Amanda Evely said: "As well as improving cost efficiency, this has provided an exciting opportunity to work with the fire brigade and will serve to further improve inter-emergency service relations."

Head of operations, Superintendent Peter Russ, said: "This sort of investment is worthwhile.

"Currently the police in Bradford are tucked away on a housing estate, and we want them to be more accessible for the public and more visible.

"The higher visibility of a police presence is overwhelmingly what the public want."

So far building work is running to schedule and the six full time officers and a sergeant stationed at Bradford are expected to move into the new building in August.

The mayor of Bradford on Avon, Vicky Landell-Mills, said: "Planning permission went through for this a few years ago, and I am delighted to see the idea has been revived.

"Many people in Bradford don't have a clue where the police station is at the moment.

"Having the two emergency services working together like this has got to be a good thing."

Though it has a comparatively low level of crime, Bradford, with other west Wiltshire towns, shares the problem of having a few criminals who cause all the trouble.

Cllr Landell-Mills said: "We are lucky in that we have excellent relations with the police.

"I hope that the joint working between the police and the fire brigade, and being in the town centre, will mean they can target these trouble-makers."

Sergeant Mark Rees, of Bradford on Avon police, said the benefits of being in the heart of the town would instantly bring results.

Sergeant Rees said: "We will be able to do more foot patrols and our officers will be able to respond to crimes more quickly."

Other mergers of emergency services in the west Wiltshire region have proved successful.

In Warminster, the ambulance station moved from a residential area to be next to the police station in Station Road.

Paramedics leaving their former base on Bradley Road had to cope with parked cars and children playing in the street as they rushed to emergency calls.