Police have agreed to sell Epsom police station to an unnamed party with officers moving into the town hall within weeks.

Surrey Police agreed the deal last night, subject to planning permission, but refused to reveal the identity of the buyer, or how much they are paying, for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

The station in Church Street is one of 15 being sold off in a bid to cut costs and minimise the impact of government cuts to policing.

An arrangement for the neighbourhood team to move into the town hall in The Parade was agreed last year and the move is expected to take place within two months. As part of the plans police will be located on the second floor of the town hall with a ground floor reception office fronting Civic Street with 12 parking spaces - 8 in the town hall and 4 in Hope Lodge car park.

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: "As well as making substantial savings by reducing the number of senior officers and staff, the police estate, which comprised a patchwork of stations of varying ages and states of repair, was identified as an area where further savings could be made from the annual cost of maintaining them.

"Many of these stations had daily visitor numbers in single figures. By basing police teams in other public places such as council offices and community centres, our estates costs could be reduced at the same time as maintaining - and strengthening - police presence in the community."

A spokesperson for Epsom and Ewell Council confirmed earlier this month that there will be no holding cells at the new location and that accommodation will provide "improved services and accessibility to the public as well as closer partnership opportunities with several council services, for example licensing".

Epsom station has not operated holding cells for a number of years with those arrested currently taken to cells in Reigate, Guildford and Staines.

For more information visit surreypa.gov.uk