HEREFORD and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has been given more than £4 million from the government to move its headquarters and merge three fire stations.

£1.89 million from the government's Transformation Fund is earmarked for relocating the fire service head office from Charles Hastings Way in Worcester to the police HQ at Hindlip Hall, also in Worcester.

And another £2.38 million will also merge its fire stations in the Wyre Forest - Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport - on to one site.

No indication is given as to where the merged station may be located, but it is described as a "new fire station".

Councillor Derek Prodger, chairman of the fire authority, said: "Both of these proposals will be subject to approval by the fire authority and an initial report will be brought as soon as possible."

Ccouncillor Richard Udall, a member of the fire authority, said: "I am pleased that we have been successful in making these grant applications.

"It is not often that the fire service in Hereford and Worcester can gain anything from this government. We have been starved of resources for the past four years, putting the service and the public at risk."

“We no longer need our current headquarters; we are under-occupying the site. I just hope we can come to an arrangement with the police that will meet our needs”.

It is thought the fire service head office could be rented out to a private sector firm - clawing back thousands of extra pounds for taxpayers.