HAMPSHIRE police's sale of its 'white elephant' headquarters in Chandler's Ford has been hit by a new embarassment.

Alpha Park is built on contaminated former industrial land and the potential deal has been delayed whilst work is done to clean up the site.

It was bought for £9.8m in 2008 and sold at a loss in January to an undisclosed buyer, subject to a survey.

The nature of the pollution was unclear.

The building has stood empty for over six years and by May 2013 had cost £1.8m just to maintain and keep secure.

John Apter, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said last night: “It is an embarassment. I was relieved when Simon Hayes, in one of the first things he did as police and crime commissioner, decided to sell it. That was the right decision.

“It is on contaminated land and we are going to have to pay to decontaminate. If it wasn't so serious it would be funny. It just goes to show we should never have bought the site,” added Mr Apter.

The police bought the site after deciding to sell its 1960s headquarters on Romsey Road in Winchester.

They have spent nearly £2m on maintaining the empty building.

The police are looking to downsize their HQ to Mottisfont Court, a former county council office, on High Street, Winchester bought for £1.5m in 2012. They will also share back office functions with the fire service at its Leigh Road HQ in Eastleigh.

Two specialist police investigation centres will also be built in Portsmouth and Basingstoke.