THE new control room at the heart of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s day-to-day work has been officially opened.

Lt Col Patrick Holcroft, the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire, was given a tour of the suite at the service’s headquarters in Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, on Monday.

The new system, which received £1.8 million in Government funding last year, will allow control room staff to quickly identify the location of the person placing an emergency call and can identify the closest fire engine even if it’s already on the move.

Councillor Derek Prodger, chairman of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “This new control room is sure to prove a great asset to the fire service for many years to come and will assist in the delivery of vital services to our local communities.”

The next phase of the fire control project will involve the service linking its mobilising system to Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to enable them to take emergency calls for each other during busy periods.

The previous control room operated out of the fire station in Copenhagen Street, Worcester, for the last 50 years.