The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has officially opened its new North headquarters - further strengthening the protection of communities.

The facility in Dyce, Aberdeen represents an investment of £1million and will serve Highland, Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, as well as Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus, and Aberdeenshire and Moray.

It was formally opened today by Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Annabelle Ewing with chair of the SFRS Board, Pat Watters and Chief Officer, Alasdair Hay, in attendance.

It will operate as a strategic base for Deputy Assistant Chief Officer, Andy Coueslant who leads a team responsible for the co-ordination and deployment of emergency resources across the North.

The new HQ will also bring together key support services including fire investigation, finance, human resources, health and safety and ICT under one roof.

Following the launch, Ms Ewing said: “It was a great pleasure to open this new state-of-the-art facility and meet the staff whose skills and expertise will ensure it is a valuable asset to the north.

“The new headquarters will play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, bringing together the support services which are key for the core work of the fire service.

“I would like to offer my congratulations to SFRS for providing a facility that the service as a whole, and the staff who work here, can be proud of.”

DACO Coueslant said: “I am absolutely delighted to see the official opening of our new Service Delivery Headquarters for the North.

“It provides a strategic base to co-ordinate our extensive prevention efforts and our response to crises and serious incidents - ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities.

"They can rest assured that we will continue to make decisions here in the North that are aligned to the needs and risks of our communities."