Work to revamp Leek and Penkridge fire stations starts

The revamped Leek station on Springfield Road is due to be operational towards the end of 2015

Work has begun on two new community fire stations in Staffordshire.

Leek's £3.4m station, Penkridge's £1.8m facility and eight others in the county are being rebuilt on their current sites as part of a £45m programme.

The new Penkridge station is scheduled to open next summer and the revamped Leek building is due to be operational towards the end of next year.

All of the new stations, which are planned to be open by early 2016, will have rooms for community groups.

The £45m project is also creating a new station at Loggerheads to replace a 45-year-old building at Ashley.

Work has already begun there and at Chase Terrace, Longton, Kinver, Rugeley, Stone and Codsall.

The Burton and Lichfield schemes are due to start later this year.