Plans to update and modernise St Neots Fire Station - including replacing the drill tower - have been submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council.

The planning application makes clear the existing buildings are “at the end of their serviceable life” and some will be demolished as they are “no longer fit for purpose”.

The proposal includes removing the existing drill tower, storage buildings and garages and replace them with a new training centre and steel drill tower, new storage facilities and a gymnasium.

Area commander Callum Faint, who is managing the project for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “These improvements are much needed at St Neots as the current training facilities are out of date and it is important to invest in the provision of our frontline firefighters.”

If planning permission is granted, crews will train at other locations in the area during the construction period, which is likely to take six to nine months.

St Neots Fire Station operates two fire engines and the first is crewed by wholetime firefighters five days a week from 8am to 5.30pm and between 5.30pm and 8am the fire engine is crewed by on-call firefighters. The second fire engine is permanently crewed by on-call firefighters.

The Hazardous Materials Unit is also based at St Neots and is crewed when required by on-call firefighters.