HRH the PRINCESS Royal opened the £1.4 million special operations building at the newly refurbished Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue headquarters.

HRH the PRINCESS Royal opened the £1.4 million special operations building at the newly refurbished Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue headquarters.Princess Anne began her visit with a tour and demonstration of the special operations department on the grounds of the headquarters in Clyst St George.Special Operations is part of a Government project called New Dimension, which was set up in 2001 in response to possible terrorist attacks. Colin Rockey, special operations group manager, guided Princess Anne through the concept of the national project and a team of firefighters staged a demonstration of the skills and techniques developed for search and rescue. At the unveiling of a plaque, she said: "Congratulations, for all those involved in achieving this. You have set yourself some interesting new targets and I am sure it will work very well."Councillor Stuart Hughes, chairman of Devon County Council's community safety committee, said: "It is a state-of-the-art facility. "Before, the canteen facility was very small but this brings it into the 21st century.