A museum dedicated to the history of Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) - located at its headquarters in Tovil, near Maidstone - is to close after it was ruled that the site was no longer suitable to host the attraction.

Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority's planning and performance committee approved the plans at a meeting on 28 January, but resolved to re-house artefacts in other museums, while also developing a new 'Virtual Museum'.

According to a report put before the committee, "the main issue is that SHQ is not a good site for the asset. There is not the infrastructure or opening hours to encourage schools to visit and therefore the opportunity to attract the biggest possible audience - children - is lost."

Fire service historian and author Roger Mardon said: "While there is merit in an e-museum as an additional facility, it cannot provide a 'hands-on' experience where visitors can truly appreciate the nature and substance of the exhibits.

"If artefacts are distributed around the county that experience is likely to be lost and the concept of a fire service museum will certainly be lost."