State-of-the-art computer equipment and user-friendly facilities were unveiled at the opening of Bromyard's new police station.

James Nicholas, the High Sheriff of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, performed the ceremony yesterday (Thursday).

He praised police officers for their work in the community and said the new facilities would help to take this work forward.

The new building, which will serve the town and the surrounding villages, will be the base for four police officers and a Community Support Officer.

It will also providing a front counter service to the public from 10am-2pm during the week.

Community Support Officer, Fiona Witcher said: "The new station is brilliant, the facilities for officers are very nice and the computer facilities are great.

"Bromyard definitely needed a new station."

PC Trudi Qualter, who transferred to Bromyard from Luton just before the old station was demolished, said the new premises were far superior as the old station smelt of damp and had ivy growing through the windows.

Bernard Hunt, a member of Bromyard town council and West Mercia Police Authority, said: "The level of technology is vastly superior to the old station, and the rest facilities for officers and visiting officers are excellent."

Computer systems at the station allow officers to access information about previous incidents and colleague's progress, before starting their shift.

Though four officers are based there at the moment, the station has facilities to accommodate two more should the force be expanded.

Inspector Bob Barnett, commander of the North Herefordshire area who is based at Leominster, will also pay regular visits to the new station.

Work began at the site in February, after the old police station and former cinema was demolished. Officers had been working from a temporary site at the council offices in Rowberry Street for several months.

The public will have the chance to see inside the new police station at an open day on Sunday (October 10), from 10am-2pm.