A NEW police station will open its doors later this week.

Pennine Police's Divisional Commander Neil Smith and Mayor of Pendle Councillor, Allan Buck will be amongst the guests celebrating the launch of the new facility on Colne Road, Brierfield.

A former convenience store, the building has been transformed by Lancashire Police and by Pendle Partnership, which secured £30,000 from the Single Regeneration Budget for renovation work.

There is a public enquiry area, an office for Brierfield's four-strong team of Community Beat Managers and Police Community Support Officers and a meeting room which will be used for police meetings and open to other local groups and service providers.

It also has disabled access and a lift which means that community groups of all ages and abilities should be able to visit the office and make use of its meeting facilities.

Nelson and Briefield Police Inspector Russ Procter said: "Lancashire Constabulary is committed to neighbourhood policing and Pennine Division is leading the way.

"For Brierfield, this means a dedicated team of neighbourhood officers consisting of a Sergeant, Community Beat Managers, Community Support Officers and Neighbourhood Response Officers and now, a fantastic new police office for the town too.

"Residents have said they want us to be highly visible and easily accessible and this new office will go a long way towards helping us achieve that.

"We're very excited about the building and hope that the community will take the opportunity to come down and see it."

The official opening ceremony will take place at 10am on Friday, and from 12noon the office will be open for guests and the public to have a look around the new facility and meet the local Neighbourhood Policing Officers.

Pendle Partnership is an alliance of organisations and people from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors committed to the economic, social and environmental regeneration of Pendle.