A new facility designed to provide realistic training environments for Warwickshire's firefighters has officially opened in Rugby.

The training centre offers a "secure setting" for hot fire training, allowing firefighters to practice in lifelike scenarios.

The state-of-the-art complex consists of various structures that emulate different building types, which can be set alight in a controlled manner.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has released a video showing off the new facility - which is the first of its kind in the county.

Local firefighters have previously travelled to neighbouring counties to train.

The service said with the centre being based within Warwickshire firefighters will now be able to attend to large-scale emergencies if required during their training days, with the facility also providing the capability to dispatch a fire engine.  

Cllr Andy Crump, portfolio holder for fire and rescue and community safety at Warwickshire County Council, said: "The opening of our new training facility is a great achievement for the fire service. 

"This state-of-the-art facility will help to upskill our people in their roles protecting the communities of Warwickshire and, importantly, has measures in place to protect their health while doing so. 

"The new facility means that our firefighters can train in county which benefits both our firefighters and our communities who will have higher levels of protection closer to home."

Warwickshire firefighters have had training sessions delayed as part of cost-saving measures over the past few months as the service waited for the new facility to open.

Some £4 million has been invested into the new training centre.