A £200,000 facelift at Great Missenden Fire Station has been officially unveiled.

New washing, toilet, kit room, kitchen and meeting room facilities were opened by Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, yesterday.

The station had hardly been changed since it was built in 1942 and needed to be brought up to modern-day standards. The improvements comprise a brick-built single-storey extension and refurbishment of the existing accommodation.

Sir Henry said: "Great Missenden's firefighters provide a wonderful service and the village is proud of the work they do, both in the local community and further afield."

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Mark Jones, who also attended the opening, said: "The much-needed improvements have made the building fit for purpose both for the firefighters and the community they serve."

Firefighters at the station – who were still able to use its fire engine during the building works – put on a demonstration of some of their firefighting and rescue techniques after the official reopening, with Station Manager Danny Whitelock giving a running commentary to the 40 guests.

They included Councillor Jeremy Ryman, Chairman of Chiltern District Council, and Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority members Councillors Mary Baldwin, David Schofield and Peter Cartwright.