WORK on a new head-quarters for St John Ambulance in Lymington is nearly complete, after a historic agreement with Hampshire Ambulance Trust (Hat).

The volunteer first-aid group has signed a 21-year lease designed to share the site at Gordleton in the New Forest with full-time paramedics.

St John Ambulance built the new headquarters for £700,000 and Hat is now a tenant. The building has garages for four trust vehicles as well as a crew room and office.

The new HQ has parking for up to 24 cars, wash down facilities for vehicles and will provide meeting rooms, storage, training and other facilities.

It will be used by the Fawley & Waterside, Lymington, Ringwood, Totton, Fordingbridge and New Milton divisions of the first aid organisation.

"It will be good for both of us," says Harry Dymond, Commander of St John Ambulance in Hampshire, "and both organisations will benefit from this close working relationship".

St John had a fruitless five-year search for a suitable home until the site at Gordleton became available.

Now, the new HQ will become a major centre for training for St John Ambulance and will incorporate all the latest techniques. When not in use, the training rooms will be available to the public.

The HQ will also be used to train St John members in social care and will provide the opportunity to support local people in the community who may need specialised help. There will even be a washing machine and drier so that anybody who is unable to launder at home can bring their laundry and use these facilities too.