Isle of Wight fire control centre moved to Surrey

Emergency calls to the Isle of Wight's fire brigade have been handed over to a control room in Surrey.

Fire service control centres for Surrey and the island were merged on Saturday and both brigades are being run from a single centre in Reigate.

Three staff from the island also relocated to the Surrey control room although the centre in Newport will remain on standby for a month.

The merger is a five-year deal between the brigades.

Surrey County Council said continual investment had kept the Reigate centre up to date and the Isle of Wight service had requested to use it.

The local authority said both areas would have a first-class service.