DUDLEY'S police station is set to close as officers prepare to move to a new town centre base.

The town's police station will relocate to Dudley Council offices in St James's Road before Christmas.

The New Street station, which closed its front desk to the public in May last year, will then be put up for sale by West Midlands Police.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said he was "pleased" that the force was retaining a base in the town centre.

He continued: "By moving in with the council this will enable closer working on important issues to keep the people of Dudley safe."

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, added: “Police are leasing part of our building in St James’s Road from early December, which is a fantastic way to use some of our surplus space by bringing in partners.

"We are just finalising the details of that lease but look forward to collaborating with West Midlands Police and welcoming them to our building.”

Dudley North MP Ian Austin, who launched a campaign to keep the police station open to the public, said: "Thousands of local residents backed my campaign to save the police station two years ago, but government cuts made it impossible to keep the front desk open to the public. 

“West Midlands Police has been hit harder than other areas, losing 27 per cent of it’s funding since 2011. 

 “I am pleased there will still be police based in Dudley but I do still think a town of our size should have a station that is open to the public. 

"Local people want more bobbies on the beat, more offenders brought before the courts and more justice to be done, so I’ll continue fighting for the West Midlands to get a fairer share of police funding."