Fire and Rescue Services have been bidding for a share of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits for long-term projects to modernise the country's fire stations. Communities and Local Government announced the latest funding round in July.

Cleveland, Country Durham and Darlington, Northumberland, Staffordshire and Surrey Fire and Rescue Services have all now been selected to develop their proposals in more detail.

In anticipation, Communities and Local Government is setting aside £60m in PFI funding for the joint Cleveland, County Durham and Darlington and Northumberland proposal, £30m for the Staffordshire proposal and £35m for the proposal from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

The projects are:

* joint project covering Cleveland, County Durham and Darlington and Northumberland: provision of new community fire stations, a headquarters building, a youth academy

* Staffordshire: provision of new rural community fire stations, an interactive learning facility and enhanced training facility

* Surrey: new community fire stations will be developed to replace existing stations which are now out-of-date