DORSET Police's divisional HQ in Ferndown has gone on the market with a £6 million price tag.

As reported in the Daily Echo, force bosses last year approved a plan to sell the building - and close six front counter services - in a bid to save £700,000.

And the Ameysford Road station is now marketed with Poole commercial property agents Sibbett Gregory.

It features offices, workshops, stores, dog kennels and parking, as well as a custody suite, locker rooms and a purpose-built gymnasium.

Estate agents say the property has potential to be divided into 'two distinct parts' as the building already has northern and southern sections.

The first floor of the northern section, which covers approximately 1.3 hectares, or 3.2 acres, is primarily offices, with a large kitchen and meeting rooms on the second floor.

The southern section forms the larger part of the site, and includes double-height repair vehicle workshops and garages, stores and hard surface car parking.

This area of the station also features the kennels, complete with dog runs and an exercise area, and covers 1.9 hectares, or 4.7 acres.

The whole site is screened from the A31 and a nearby golf course by trees.

In total, there are 227 parking spaces, and the site contains an 18-metre high communication mast.

Residents spoke of their concerns after learning that the station, which was built in 1999, was due to be sold, and counter services at Shaftesbury, Ferndown, Christchurch, Winton, Dorchester and Wareham closed.

More than 200 staff based at the Ferndown HQ will be moved to other areas of the force.

Police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill called the decision "challenging" last year.

It is estimated that the building's sale will save almost £400,000 a year in running costs - said to be the equivalent of 10 front line officers or 17 community support offices.

Four full-time enquiry offices will remain in Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Bridport.

The Ferndown Safer Neighbourhood Team will continue to operate from the Barrington Centre.