A new-look training centre for Suffolk firefighters has been formally opened.

The Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Training Centre at Wattisham Flying Station near Hadleigh and Bildeston has recently undergone a £1.3 million upgrade.

It now boasts a tactical firefighting facility, which uses real-fire and an LPG-fired facility to simulate incidents firefighters may be faced with.

The most recent addition is the modular office complex, which features additional classrooms and welfare facilities for all delegates and staff.

The centre was formally declared open at the annual base families' day on Thursday August 24 by Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Jon Lacey of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and Colonel Toby R Moore MBE, Station Commander, Wattisham Flying Station.

CFO Lacey said: "This is an exciting new chapter for the training centre, which has been at been based at Wattisham now for over a decade.

"Our new training centre provides additional classrooms and office space, supporting various aspects of fire and rescue training, such as incident command.

"It also provides improved welfare facilities, which was designed to bring everyone together in an atmosphere where they feel they belong.

"Similarly, the new training complexes allow us to give new firefighters the best training possible in a way that is realistic yet less harmful to the environment, through us not having to use as much carbon-based burning material as before."

Councillor Andrew Reid, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection and chair of the Suffolk Fire Authority said: "I am delighted to see this superb new facility open.

"The work of the fire service is vital in protecting our community and often requires them to undertake hazardous work in extremely demanding conditions.

"Our firefighters deserve the best possible training to prepare them for such work and this facility will offer exactly that for many years to come."

The fire service training centre has been at Wattisham since 2011 and occupies a 17-acre site that previously housed the Bloodhound missile system from the Cold War.

The training centre is used throughout the year for a wide range of training requirements which include refresher and ongoing assessments by all staff.