EMERGENCY vehicles will be moved out of Whitefield Ambulance Station, officials have confirmed.

The Guide reported in June that North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) was considering closing the building in Bury Old Road, Besses, in a bid to save £107,000 a year.

It has now confirmed that one rapid-response vehicle will move to Whitefield Fire Station, in Bury New Road, while another will transfer to Bury Ambulance Station in Birch Street, within the next few weeks.

NWAS chiefs have said the change will not impact on response times.

"It is important to understand that ambulances are on the road for the majority of their shifts, which means for most of the time, stations are vacant," an NWAS spokesman said.

He added: "Once a patient has been taken to hospital, the vehicle will usually be despatched straight to the next patient and will rarely return to station except for a rest break, restocking or cleaning.

"We do not believe that the community will see any change to the way in which they are served and responded to."

As part of the restructure, six administrative workers moved from the Whitefield base to NWAS's headquarters in Bolton in June and there are plans to close the building by the end of the year and sell it.

Savings will be made come from a reduction in maintenance costs.

An NWAS spokesman said: "We are currently undergoing an extensive review of its estates portfolio throughout the region.

"This review has been undertaken to maintain and where possible, to improve service delivery for the communities we serve, to improve the working environment and facilities for NWAS staff and to establish in this challenging financial climate whether we are using our resources as effectively as possible."

He added: "Whitefield Ambulance Station is a 1950s building and the structure is showing extensive signs of age and needs significant investment to bring it up to a modern and acceptable standard.

"Both NWAS and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service agree that these proposals are a positive demonstration of partnership and responsible financial management by two publicly funded organisations.

"It is anticipated that the remaining staff who occupy the offices will vacate the site in late 2015, at which time, a proposal will be made for disposal.

"Any money from the sale of current site would be reinvested in frontline services."