Work has started on a combined sports centre and fire station in Toxteth, after a grant for £2.3 million from the lottery's MyPlace scheme was approved.

It is the first time such a joint facility has ever been developed and will be a major boost to the community of Liverpool.

The £4.8 million scheme – which also includes £2 million investment from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and £500,000 from the city council - involves demolishing Toxteth Sports Centre and relocating Toxteth Fire Station to the Upper Hill Street site which will be known as Toxteth Fire Fit.

Along with the fire station, the facility will include community meeting rooms, dance studio, fitness gym and the community, combat sports room, table tennis studio, climbing wall, sports hall, craft room and a community kitchen.

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Councillor Dave Hanratty, Vice Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority said: "This is a unique project that will give the community a really modern, exciting facility. The grant from MyPlace was a major milestone in making it happen and we’re now looking forward to seeing the new centre take shape.

"There is a clear connection between fire risk and health and fitness which is why we have been working with health providers to promote healthy lifestyles. A Fire Fit hub like this would be a really valuable way for us developing this further."

The fire service has already built a partnership with Liverpool City Council to provide leisure facilities by equipping fire stations with fitness suites for community use.

With the Fire Authority planning to invest in the fire station at Toxteth to give it a significant refurbishment and the Council looking at rebuilding the leisure centre, the two organisations saw an exciting way of continuing their partnership, being more efficient and working together through creating Toxteth Fire Fit.

Work is expected to be completed on the new facility in summer 2012.

(CD/GK)