FIRE bosses have set up a company to run a controversial control centre that will close Buckinghamshire's 999 HQ.

South East Fire and Rescue Control Centre Ltd has been formed by the nine fire and rescue services in the South East.

Each is to lose their 47 call centres - Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire - in favour of one super centre in Fareham, Hampshire.

All opposed the changes, which will see nine control centres serve all of England.

The control rooms will move into the centre during a period of 14 months from May 2010.

The building will be finished in three months.

The vice chairman of the company will be Andy Dransfield, who sits on the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority.

He said: "The board is determined to move the project forward and provide an excellent service for the public in the South East."