Plans to build a new police HQ outside Workington have taken a step forward - but concerns have been raised on the effect of the move.

In January Peter McCall, Cumbria police and crime commissioner, confirmed land at Lillyhall was under consideration for a new police HQ to replace the Hall Brow station, which has been swamped in two of the county's floods.

And last week Allerdale council's executive approved to dispose of land it owns at Lillyhall and transfer it to the police and crime commissioner.

The meeting was held behind closed doors due to the commercial sensitivity of the deal.

Sue Hayman, Workington MP, said she was hopeful the move would generate more service jobs to make up for the loss of smaller police stations in the area.

She said: "After the floods I went to visit the police station and they felt they couldn't take another flood because of the disruption to services, which is understandable.

"What would be good is if this move could bring more jobs. There's been a lot of service jobs lost because we lost so many smaller police stations.

"People say they no longer have the ability to drop into police stations so whatever goes up at Lillyhall needs to provide a better service for the constituency."

She added people need to see police officers on the streets, but costs and funding were an issue.

She said: "People want to see police presence, not just in Workington but in other towns in West Cumbria. I recently met with the superintendent at Workington police station and there are challenges in managing such a big area, it's not easy. We really need to look at what impact and what costs we're looking at and make sure we support the local community and protect them."

In the 2017-2020 estate strategy published by the police and crime commissioner, Cumbria police's head of estates and fleet stated £500,000 had been set aside for purchase of land in West Cumbria.

He added terms had been agreed for the purchase of land at Lillyhall for a possible location of a new West Cumbria Deployment Centre with custody.

A spokesman for the police and crime commissioner confirmed the acquisition of land from Allerdale council at Lillyhall "would be to meet our projected estate needs in West Cumbria."

However she said there were no firm plans to build on it at the moment.

Allerdale councillor Mark Jenkinson said moving the police station from the centre of Workington was "a terrible idea."

He added: "It will not serve to strengthen the relationship between the police and the community. One of the big complaints I get from people is they never see a police officer, I try to stick up for the police because I know they are under pressure. But moving the police station would worsen people's perception of community policing."

Mr Jenkinson said he understood police needed a new HQ, but he was hopeful a satellite office would be retained in Workington.

He added: "I would also suggest they need to do that at the bottom end of town, passed Finkle Street, where we seem to be getting more complaints of antisocial behaviour."