SANDBACH Police Station has closed its doors for around 10 weeks for an extensive refurbishment to be carried out.

But senior officers have promised that it will be ‘business as usual’ for policing in the town.

The station, which opened in 1990, is being refurbished to improve facilities for the officers based there.

The South Cheshire Victim Care Unit will also move into the building, relocating from Crewe.

Inspector Mark Gammage said: “The policing service will not be reduced during the shutdown.

“Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers will be patrolling, responding to incidents, carrying out investigations and working alongside other agencies and organisations as usual.

“Technically, they will be based at the Middlewich Custody Centre or at Alsager Police Post for the 10 weeks, but they will spend most of their time out and about in Sandbach and the neighbouring villages.”

Sandbach Police Station does not have a desk for the public to call in and the door-buzzer which connects to the Cheshire Police call management centre will be disconnected during the closure.

But people will be able to contact the police on the usual numbers, 0845 4580000 for the Cheshire Police information line or 0845 4586382 for the Congleton Community Action Team line.

Inspector Gammage added: “Although people will not be able to make an appointment to see an officer or hand in documents at the police station they can make alternative arrangements or call in at Crewe or Congleton Police Stations, which have front desk facilities.

“When the refurbishment is complete the CAT will have more space and better communications systems.

“We need to keep facilities suitable for policing Sandbach in the 21st century.”