WORCESTER'S iconic fire station is on the verge of being sold to a London-based property developer, it has emerged.

Your Worcester News can reveal how the Copenhagen Street site, which has sparked serious interest ever since it was first marketed in May last year, is about to be handed over for a figure believed to top £1 million.

The news is a huge boost for the fire service, which says it will use the seven-figure sum to boost its coffers at a time of huge financial pressure.

The sale is being handled by Halls Commercial, and the identity of the buyer is being kept under wraps until it is complete.

But we can reveal how the offer has been deemed acceptable to the fire service, and the incoming owner is a London-based investor with a history of development.

Councillor Derek Prodger, fire authority chairman, said: "There's been an offer we are happy with, it meets the valuation that was put on the building and I'm delighted.

"It's in such a good location right at the heart of the city and lots of possible uses could be made of it, there was considerable interest and it'll be interesting to see what happens to it."

Cllr Prodger said work was progressing well on the new replacement station, a state-of-the-art facility due to open at Great Western Business Park around April.

"It will be ready around April time so this sale is very good timing for us," he said.

Although the Copenhagen Street building is not listed, it spans 26,920 square foot and is in a highly-sought after location, facing out towards the riverside with the Guildhall, Worcester Cathedral and Heart of Worcestershire College in the immediate vicinity.

Three storeys tall, it sits in the city centre Conservation Area and was constructed between 1939 and 1941.

Last year the city council, which would have to decide upon whatever planning application is submitted for the building, cited possible uses as a hotel, a leisure attraction, offices or homes.

Halls Commercial has not gone into detail over the buyer's ambitions for the site, but says the council regards it as "particularly important as part of the regeneration of the city centre".

The new city fire station base, at the business park off Tolladine Road, will contain top class facilities in a 20,000 sq ft facility.

It will have storage areas, offices, lecture space and even training rooms for the Young Firefighters Association to encourage careers on the frontline.