A new multi-million pound fire station in Sheffield has been officially opened.

Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Talib Hussain formally unveiled the new Birley Moor fire station.

The new £3.5 million building built by BAM Construction Limited helps to provide first-class emergency fire cover to the south and east of Sheffield, covering a far greater area of South Yorkshire than the former, part-time station at Mosborough, right on the Derbyshire border, was able to.

Birley Moor fire station houses one full time and one part time fire engine, plus some specialist vehicles. It started receiving its first 999 calls in July 2015 and confirms the service’s commitment to providing the best possible emergency response service to the people of South Yorkshire.

The station boasts a number of environmental sustainability features and is also a community facility, with a room available for use free of charge by local community groups, charities and other third sector organisations.

White watch firefighters used the station’s training tower to perform a demonstration in front guests, who included teachers and pupils from nearby Birley Primary School.

Speaking at the event Chief Fire Officer James Courtney, said: “The financial pressures the fire and rescue service faces are both well documented and unprecedented. But this is the second fire station opening I have attended in recent weeks and the facilities both at Parkway station and here at Birley Moor are the best possible physical reminder of the fact that despite the challenges we face we remain absolutely committed to supporting our future.”