RAINFORD police station will be put up for sale as Merseyside Police look to press ahead with plans to open a new community hub in the Village Hall.

On Thursday, Geoff Broadhead, director of resources for Merseyside Police, gave an update on the force’s estate strategy for 2018-19 to the joint audit committee.

He revealed that Rainford police station, in Church Road, is one of a number of stations Merseyside Police will be looking to sell in 2018-19.

The 45-year-old community police station has been closed since 2012.

“Marketing, which will start shortly, will be for Upton Police Station in Wirral, Stanley Road Police Station and Rainford House,” Mr Broadhead said.

“Rainford House police box is an old police house with a box built on the front of it, which was the community police station.

“So, it’s effectively a house with a converted garage on the front of it, so that will go up for sale as well.”

Jane Kennedy, Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, unveiled the plans to open a new community police hub at Rainford Village Hall in 2014.

The proposals, which went out for public consultation, were part of the Commissioner’s 10-year investment plan to modernise Merseyside Police’s stations and facilities.

At the heart of the plans was the creation of a network of modern community police stations across Merseyside where neighbourhood police officers and PCSO’s would be co-located in local hubs alongside partners.

The community police stations will be opened on a regular, but not continuous basis. They will not house any custody suites or cells.