REFURBISHMENT works to provide a new police station in Minehead will start next week.

Avon and Somerset Police said they are expecting works on the former Seahorse Centre to be completed by late autumn.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Next week work will start on the refurbishment of the former Seahorse Centre to provide a new police station in Minehead.

“We are expecting the work to be completed by late autumn.”

In March, the force said they completed the purchase of the former Seahorse Centre on Stephenson Road from Somerset Council and would be refurbishing the building to provide a new police station for Minehead.

The new premises will house an enquiry office, the Neighbourhood Policing Team, and will also provide touchdown desks for response officers.

Temporary chief inspector Rebecca Wells-Cole previously said: “This is great news that we’re excited to share with the community of Minehead.

“Our existing station in Minehead on Townsend Road is oversized, in need of refurbishment and is no longer suitable to meet the needs of modern policing.

“This new station will be much more efficient to run and allow us to continue to provide a policing service in Minehead for many years to come.

“The new station will house an enquiry office to enable people to come and speak to us directly.

“It will also be the new home of our Neighbourhood Policing Team, who will continue to provide a visible policing presence in Minehead, working proactively to solve problems and support our community.”

Part of the new building will be leased back to Somerset Council.

Working with other public and social care provider partners, the site will be repurposed to deliver training to health and social care staff as part of a government’s Levelling Up programme to develop a Somerset Academy for Health and Social Care.