CONSTRUCTION on a new £20 million police headquarters is set to start in Bury this year.

Bury police's new Divisional Head Quarters will be built within 300 yards of the birthplace of the founder of the modern police force, Sir Robert Peel, and will provide world class facilities for officers in the town.

Work will start at the end of this year on the facility in the Bury Ground area - a stone's throw away from the current divisional headquarters the new building is replacing.

It is expected to be operational by spring 2009 and will provide all police facilities under one roof.

Chief Superintendent David Anthony, Bury's police chief, said: "Much thought and planning has gone into this new building over the last few years and it will provide us with the accommodation and facilities to be able to give the people of Bury the first class policing service they deserve".

The distinctive new building will have a basement car park with a crime scene examination area. The first floor will house the custody suite as well as accommodate CID, Crown Prosecution Service staff, the Justice Support Unit and the Prisoner Processing Unit.

Command and support units will be based on the second floor.