FIRE chiefs have insisted that good quality furniture and other items from Haydon Bridge’s former fire station building have not been discarded.

Concerns were raised by a resident who reported seeing various items, including desks and crockery, being loaded into a skip after the station officially closed last week.

The resident also claimed that an oven from the station’s kitchen had been taken away by a scrap man, and suggested that the items could have been put to good use by the community.

But this week, Northumberland County Council insisted that all reusable items from the building have been given a new lease of life.

A county council spokesman said some seating and a fridge had been given to Haydon Bridge playgroup, which has relocated to the village’s community centre having been previously based at the fire station.

The spokesman added: “As many of the items as possible were donated to community groups and local businesses.

“Seating and a fridge was given to the local playgroup, and office furniture, including desks, was given to a local business.

“The scrap man who residents may have seen visiting the station collected a free-standing oven from the kitchen which was swapped for a scrap car, which will be used for training at other stations. Any items that were left over were of very poor quality and are unlikely to have been any use.”

Last week’s closure of the station at Haydon Bridge brought an end to 50 years of firefighting in the village.

The fire station site went up for sale in August. The county council said it had received a number of offers, which were being considered.

Haydon Parish Council is opposed to the site being sold to a housing developer and wants the community to benefit from its future.