OFFICERS have told of their shock after the body of a firefighter was found at Weymouth’s old fire station.

Police cordoned off the entrances to the harbourside building at the Boot Hill junction yesterday morning following the discovery.

Police officers, firefighters and paramedics visited the scene during the course of the morning.

Police said that the death was not being treated as suspicious and that the coroner had been informed.

Assistant chief fire officer Ben Ansell said: “We are saddened to learn of the death of one of our firefighters from Weymouth.

“Obviously this is a very difficult time for his family and for members of the staff.

“Our thoughts and support are with them all.”

Police did not confirm the name or age of the man, as formal identification had not yet taken place.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Dorset Police officers were called to an address in Weymouth at around 10.30am on Thursday morning, where the body of a man was found.

“Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

“The coroner has been notified and the next of kin have been informed.”

Residents said they were shocked at the death.

Initially, they said they were unaware of the incident and thought the cordon had been set up for dog training which sometimes takes place in the building.

Malcolm Price, assistant manager of The Boot Inn, said: “It is sad, of course it is.

“I saw an ambulance, fire engine, three police cars and a paramedic car.

“I know they do a lot of dog training in there so I thought that was initially what had happened.

“The trouble is nobody goes in there very often.”

Weymouth firefighters moved out of the old site more than a year ago and relocated to an £8.5m complex on Radipole Lane.

Building’s Future Is Undecided

The future of the old fire station still remains uncertain after the brigade moved out.

Plans to develop the empty building into retirement housing were met with criticism from local residents and rejected by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and susequently thrown out at a planning inquiry. Planning inspector John Wilde agreed with residents that knocking down the 1930s fire station and building 52 retirement apartments in its place would be overdevelopment and overwhelm the nearby character buildings.

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