THE FUTURE of a much-loved police station is still in doubt more than a year after it was given a stay of execution.

Wanstead Police station in Spratt Hall Road, has been under threat since plans were announced to sell the historic building and replace it with a new High Street base in 2007.

Campaigners fighting to keep the Victorian station open were given a reprieve last February when former Redbridge borough commander, Dave Grant, told a public meeting that the facility would not be closed if the majority of residents were against it.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has since been carrying out a London-wide assessment of all stations to weed out those that are not cost effective - with residents in Wanstead fearing the Spratt Hall Road base - which has a potential market value of around £1.5 million if sold - could fall victim.

Critics complained in October last year that the public consultation held by the MPA on the station's future was flawed - with Boris Johnson ordering a new one.

Deputy Superintendent Nick Simpson, of Redbridge Police, said that the MPA had yet to make a decision on the station's future.

He said: "It's still in the hands of the MPA because the review is still going on.

"No closure will take place until that is finished.

"There are no plans to shut that police station at the moment."