FIRE chiefs are investing thousands of pounds in a new expansion at Leigh fire station. Bosses at Greater Manchester Fire Authority are transferring vehicle maintenance services, supply services and equipment and breathing apparatus facilities to the station on St Helens Road.

The deputy county fire officer Barry Dixon said that the new facilities in Leigh would make the fire service more efficient and save £100,000 a year. The current vehicle maintenance building in Ellenbrook Road in Worsley, in operation since 1974, will be closed and the land sold to developers.

The equipment supply warehouse, in Moorside Road, Swinton, will also be moved to Leigh, as will facilities for replenishing breathing apparatus sets and repair and maintenance of other equipment currently done at Bury fire station.

Leigh fire station, built in 1983, currently houses the driver training school as well as a normal fire station.

Fire officer Dixon promised that the savings from the rationalisation of Greater Manchester Fire Authority's back-up services would be pumped into front line firefighting.

He said: "Costs would be reduced considerably and we would have a new facility.

"The more money we can save with the cost of support services then we can concentrate it on our frontline services." The plans have already been lodged at Wigan town hall and the development has gone out to tender.

Mr Dixon said he could not confirm how much would be spent on the new building until the tendering process was completed.

He also insisted that no jobs would be lost and staff would be relocated to Leigh.