Norwich's main police station is to undergo a major upgrade as part of a series of improvements at other sites to help make Norfolk Constabulary's estate 'fit for purpose'.

The Norwich City Police Station at Bethel Street, which forms part of City Hall, is a Grade II listed building which was built around 1936.

The building is to be refurbished as part of the force's wide-ranging estates strategy which will also see improvements made to other stations, including, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn and North Walsham.

Proposals for Bethel Street, which have been given the green light by Norwich City Council, include:

• Removal of some internal walls to form open plan working areas suitable for modern policing requirements.

• Demolition and removal of the former custodial suite.

• Enclosing the third floor balcony with a new roof to enable the space to form part of the useable floor area.

• Demolition of the existing temporary buildings within the car-park/courtyard area and construction of purpose designed extension.

The scheme will see two of the original cells retained with part of the original corridor, while action will also be taken to preserve steel windows in the 1930s section of the building.

Windows in the 1960s section of the building are to be removed and replaced as part of the plans which will see the outside of the building largely unchanged apart from the addition of new illuminated signage and a stainless steel sign.

Norfolk's police and crime commissioner Lorne Green said the changes were part of an 'ambitious estates programme' to make sure the buildings were 'fit for purpose' in the 21st century.

Temporary deputy chief constable, Nick Dean, said: 'Many of our properties were built in the first part of the twentieth century and have been in need of modernisation for some time. The ongoing costs to maintain and upgrade these types of building are extensive so we have had to look at investing in them to save in the long term.'

He added the work would enable the force to 'provide an enhanced service' to communities while delivering 'cost efficiencies'.