ESSEX fire service will receive more than £2 million from the Government for capital and refurbishment programmes.

The Government announced it was giving £1 million to every fire service in England, with services then receiving extra funding depending on the population of the area they cover.

This is the first time new money for capital investment has been given to all services.

The funding can be used for small refurbishments, more major building works or other capital projects.

The money will be given in two tranches, with Essex receiving £876,686 in the 2009/10 financial year, and an additional £1,205,669 in the 2010/11 financial year.

ECFRS Assistant Chief Fire Officer Adam Eckley, its director of assets and resources, said: “We have already started a major, county-wide refurbishment programme which has seen work done at several fire stations.”