Staff move out of ageing County Durham police station
Officers are to move out of a County Durham police station later this month to allow demolition work to begin.
Newton Aycliffe police station was built in 1972, but surveys carried out last year revealed the building is already at the end of its working life.
The station houses 150 staff, but has been described as "inefficient" because of a lack of floor space.
Staff will move out on 28 February, with a new station built on the same site by late 2012.
A Durham Police spokesman said: "From 28 February staff will leave the station in the town's Central Avenue to offices half a mile away at Parsons Court on the nearby industrial estate.
"There will be no public access to the front office from 16 February to allow time for the counter to be removed and reassembled at Parsons Court.
"Contact with officers at the old station will still be possible during this time via an intercom."
Durham Police Authority said the cost of the new station would come out of existing funds.