Radstock's Police Station on Wells Road is one of several stations across Bristol and Somerset that faces closure in a bid to save money.

Avon and Somerset Police are closing some of its stations as part of a money saving scheme and hopes to reduce the number of buildings occupied by staff by 36% over the next five years.

Staff are to be relocated in Council offices, fire and ambulance stations, or posted to different stations in the area. Many officers will be transferred to three new police and custody centres, due to open later this year, in Bridgwater, Patchway and Keynsham.

The force says that the move will mean that some existing stations, which are outdated, expensive to maintain or in need of repair, will be under-occupied.

Sue Mountstevens, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "I do not want residents to feel that the police are withdrawing from their area or street. Far from it. Our plans are about reducing the amount of oversized and under-utilised buildings we own and providing the best possible access for our communities.

"In the traditional sense, police stations as you know them now will change. Soon you are much more likely to see your local police team located with other 'blue light' services, such as fire and ambulance, or with your local Council. This means that the police will be where you need them most, in the heart of your community.

"This is an exciting time for local policing and reinforces our commitment to serving our communities, while being more efficient and cost-effective with our buildings."

Whilst the station on Wells Road is expected to close and its staff to move to a new suitable location by 2017, a police spokesperson has said that services will continue from the station until a new facility has been found.

Inspector Shirley Eden said: "The closure of the station will not affect the policing of the area, in fact, we are hoping that it will make it more efficient.

"The station in Radstock can be out of the way for some people and residents can find that it is not open when they need it to be, so if we had a base in Midsomer Norton High Street, for example, if we were in The Hollies with the Council staff, we would be more accessible to people.

"It is [the current station] a big building with few staff, so it makes sense for us to be relocated to somewhere more central. It is important to stress that the station closing will not affect how the area is policed, when it is closed, the officers will be based locally, they will not be coming out to you from Bath. This closure can only make the service more efficient."

Other stations in the region affected by the closures include, Manvers Street Station, in Bath, which is looking to co-locate with the Council's One Stop Shop. Services at Keynsham Station will be moved alongside the Council in the Town Hall and Filton and Staple Hill Stations are to merge with a new police centre being opened in Patchway.