The Kent Police control room in Maidstone

Kent Police and the county's fire service are to share an emergency control room from February next year.

All 999 calls are to be answered at the police control room in Maidstone, in a move designed to ensure "a more resilient and efficient service".

Steve Demetriou, director of operations at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), said it would not affect the time it takes to respond to emergencies in the county.

He said: "As far as the public are concerned, they will notice no difference to the excellent service we already deliver."

Andy Adams, assistant chief constable of Kent Police, added: "Experience has shown the considerable benefits that this arrangement will bring to both services, especially during major incidents."

The decision to merge the two control rooms comes after the government scrapped a project that would have seen KFRS move to a regional base in Hampshire.

It is hoped the joint control room will allow police officers and firefighters to work more closely, by implementing lessons learnt during the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London.

KFRS will now have access to the same communications network used by the police, as well as the countywide CCTV network.