A NEW police headquarters at Horwich is on schedule to open in the Autumn.

work is well underway on the centre which will be used as a base for a range of specialist units and other mobile patrols, rather than a traditional police station.

It will also be home to criminal investigation, crime management, scenes of crime, special constabulary, traffic training, community affairs and traffic wardens.

The location of the station, outside the town centre and near to the motorway network, was chosen because it will provide easier access to all towns within Bolton.

It is due to open in October.

Chief Supt Dave Lea from Bolton Police said: "I am delighted to see work is progressing well on the new purpose built deployment station. Everything is on track for it to open in October, and I am looking forward to deploying staff soon after."

Crumbling police stations in Horwich and Westhoughton are also due to close in the autumn and will be replaced by new state-of-the-art premises in the two towns.

Work is also expected to start before the end of the year on the new multi-million pound police divisional headquarters in Bolton.

The relocation of the nerve centre near the site of the former Burnden Park football stadium has already been approved by planning chiefs.

Building work, which was due to start earlier this year, was delayed following problems with a proposed access route. Police were forced to buy a small plot of land near to the site in Scholey Street and the legal paperwork is currently being completed.

Mr Lea said: "We are hopeful that building work can begin on the new headquarters before the end of the year and that it will open next summer."

It will replace the existing premises in Le Mans Crescent which will become home to a one-stop shop on the ground floor.