PLANS for two new community police stations in Wirral have been backed by the public following a consultation.

Situated at the Conway Centre in Conway Street Birkenhead and Carrbridge Community Centre in Woodchurch Estate, they are part of a 10-year investment plan to modernise Merseyside's police stations and facilities, while reducing the annual cost of running them.

Community police stations have already opened in Hoylake, at Moreton Library and One Stop Shop, the St James Centre in Laird Street and the Rock Ferry Centre.

Merseyside's police and crime commissioner Jane Kennedy said: "I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to this consultation and share their views on the location of these two new community police Stations.

"It is clear from the results that the vast majority of respondents are pleased at the prospect of having a new community police station opened in their area, giving them regular access to their neighbourhood police team in an easily accessible location.

"I am not hiding the fact that these changes are being driven by austerity.

"We need to reduce our annual running costs in order to protect officers' jobs and making these changes will enable us to save £2.5m every year on running the police estate – that means protecting 65 police officer jobs.

"The results of this consultation show that people recognise the impact of the cuts and appreciate that we are trying to deliver the best possible service with the resources we have."