One of Epsom’s two fire engines and half the town’s firefighters moved to Banstead on Monday.

After months of delays, the firefighters have been temporarily relocated to the police station in Banstead High Street.

A permanent site for Banstead's new fire engine has not yet been found but there have been discussions over sharing the ambulance service premises in the Horseshoe.

An Epsom firefighter said: "We have lost our second fire engine forever. The residents of Epsom and Ewell do not have the cover they used to have. We are being split in half."

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Another firefighter, who has been relocated from Epsom to Banstead, said: "It’s good for the people of Banstead and surrounding areas. We are so quick now."

He said their fire engine could arrive second to fires in Epsom within the required response but it would take longer than before.

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