Sheringham's new fire station has been officially opened by Fire Minister Bob Neill.

The £1.25m station in Cromer Road is a first for Norfolk as the building is shared with East of England Ambulance Service and Norfolk Constabulary.

Mr Neill said: "This new station shows real commitment to improving frontline services. Investing in 21st Century fire stations in the right locations will help save lives and deliver a service that meets the needs of today's world.

"Sheringham fire station is a fantastic example of the Fire and Rescue Authority putting itself at the heart of its local community and working in conjunction with the other emergency services to provide a facility of which Sheringham can be justifiably proud."

Harry Humphrey, Cabinet Member for Community Protection, said: "This is an exciting move for all concerned and we are delighted to be able to work so closely with our emergency service partners in this way. To my mind the emergency services sharing premises makes absolute sense rather than each having separate buildings. The Sheringham model could be replicated elsewhere should the opportunity arise."

Funded by Tesco as part of the development of the site of the former fire station, the new two-storey building houses a fire engine, personnel quarters, accommodation for a neighbourhood policing team and a response base for the ambulance service.

Incorporated into the station is a brick-built drill tower, giving the station an enhanced training facility to that of the old station. The tower will enable crews to train for incidents involving high rise buildings and differing sized openings will create varying conditions to train under.

The building was completed on the 21st of November 2011 and handed over to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service by Allan Roe of Tesco.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and other local partners continue to work with Tesco on proposals to include community safety facilities in the future redevelopment of the old fire station site.

Mr Roe said: "Tesco is delighted to have completed the first step in our programme to offer improved services for Sheringham. The new Fire Station will be followed by a state of the art Community Centre and finally a Supermarket which will all serve to support the local community."

NPS worked on behalf of Norfolk County Council to secure the new fire station and community centre.

The Sheringham crew moved to the new site on the evening of the 22nd of December 2011, with the first fire call being responded to from the new station on the 29th of December.

Sheringham is a Retained fire station with a crew consisting of one Watch Manager, two Crew Managers and nine firefighters. The previous fire station in Cromer Road, opposite the new one, was built in 1963.