A SPECIALIST building company has created a hangar at Bournemouth Airport for the area’s police helicopter.

The custom-made National Police Air Service (NPAS) hangar was manufactured by Rubb, with a galvanised steel frame clad with a PDV Ferrari fabric.

The project followed a shake-up which saw a new national air service take over responsibility for the helicopter service, which was previously provided by Dorset Police and based at Winfrith.

The hangar at Bournemouth measures 26 metres by 17 metres, with 7.5 metre-high sidewalls.

It has a large heli-door at its front and a roller shutter door to the rear gable, allowing easy access and storage of helicopters and other aircraft.

Ian Hindmoor, managing director of Gateshead-based Rubb, said: “We secured the order in March and the aircraft hangar was manufactured and delivered to site for construction to begin in May.

“We used our experience and knowledge of working on urgent operation requirements for the UK military to quickly complete this hangar for NPAS.

“We are delighted to have delivered this project and have proved again the benefits of a Rubb building in these circum-stances.”

The NPAS has 25 aircraft stored at 23 locations throughout the UK.

It says the storage allows for quicker response times, with 98 per cent of England and Wales reachable by its aircraft within 20 minutes.

Sergeant Neil Cartwright, base manager of NPAS Bournemouth, said: “The facilities at the new hangar and base are excellent. It’s an ideal location to operate from in order to service Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”