A MAJOR project to refurbish Sidmouth Fire Station is nearing completion.

A MAJOR project to refurbish Sidmouth Fire Station is nearing completion.

Work started on the Woolbrook Road building ten weeks ago and, when finished, the station will boast new offices, showers, toilets and a lecture room.

A new addition to the station is a community room which local organisations and residents can rent.

Stuart Collings, station manager, said: "We were told a couple of years ago that the refurbishment was going to happen and it is nice to see it nearly finished.

"The refurbishment has gone very well - there have been no problems.

"By the time the finishing touches have been added we are looking at a fortnight until it is ready."

Firefighters based at the station have temporarily been housed in portable buildings since the work, funded by the fire service, commenced.

Mr Collings added: "It has been a bit cramped but because we know something better is coming at the end we have made the best of a bad situation!

"The station looks 100 per cent better. It was workable before but now it's going to be all up-to-date and it will make a heck of a difference. I think people will also respect it more."

Once it is up-and-running, an open day will take place where people will be given guided tours of the revamped station and be able to have a look around the community room, which can be used for group of up to 20 people.

As well as the work carried out to the fire station, the adjoining ambulance station has been extended to house a paramedic's rest room.