KINVER residents are being invited to take a look around their new £1.9m community fire station as part of a special celebration event.

The crew will be showcasing facilities available for local groups to use at a community open day on Thursday (February 26), between 1pm and 3.30pm and 4pm until 6pm, where visitors will also get the chance to take a tour of the operational side of the station.

At 1pm a time capsule will be buried in the Fairfield Drive grounds containing a photograph and short biography of each of the current crew members as well as pictures of the old fire station.

Artwork by eight pupils from Foley Infants School and eight pupils from Brindley Heath Junior School will also be included after the children entered a competition to create a picture to show what Kinver Community Fire Station means to them.

Young people from Edgecliff High School will also contribute to the time capsule along with children from local nurseries.

Station Manager Dez Stoddart said: “The community tours will give residents the chance to see the excellent facilities that are available for their use.

“We are really keen to support local organisations and would encourage them to hold their meetings in our community rooms – free of charge – where they can also interact with firefighters and community safety officers.

“Visitors interested in the operational side of the service will be able to enjoy a behind the scenes look at a working fire station including the fire engine.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to come down, meet the firefighters who serve their community, and celebrate this special day with us.”

Kinver’s new community fire station, which replaces the outdated base built in 1957, has been designed to enable firefighters to respond more efficiently and effectively to emergencies.