PRESTON'S top policeman has made a public pledge not to scrap Fulwood and Lea police stations.

Chief Superintendent Russ Weaver scotched rumours that the two buildings are in danger of closing, and said that the force are set to spend £3.5 million on a new police building somewhere in the town centre.

The head of Lancashire Constabulary's Central Division revealed the new building, known as an operating centre, would not be replacing Fulwood and Lea, but would give officers somewhere to meet and be briefed, before starting work for the day at the city's three police stations.

He said: "There is still going to be a Fulwood police station and a Lea police station. The one thing people don't want to see is a withdrawal of police services."

Speaking in front of a public audience at the council's northern area forum meeting last week, Mr Weaver outlined his plans for the central division, covering the Preston area.

He revealed that the Lawson Street police station, the centre of Preston's operations, is out of date and overstretched, with parking space even being rented from local firms, and prisoners being taken to Skelmersdale at weekends to free up space in Preston.

The new building, funded by a Home Officer grant, will try and solve some of these problems.

He said: "It is going to be an additional building."