And divisional commander Russ Weaver promised that the move was not a prelude to the eventual closure of the building.

Fears had been expressed over the future of the station following a restructure of the opening hours.

Instead of previously opening every day from 9am-7pm, it is now open between 10am-6pm, apart from Thursday when the hours are noon-8pm.

Mr Weaver said the change was “sensible and affordable”, that the public always had access to a police officer and that emergency situations were still dealt with accordingly.

Former councillor Mark Bamforth, sub postmaster at Warton Street Post Office, Lytham, complained: “It’s gone from 365 days a year, 24/7 at the old police station to the new station which seems to be opening less and less. There was always someone there at the old station.

“The feedback from customers is that they can’t believe it. People are worried that St Annes could eventually close.”

But Mr Weaver said: “No police station in my division ever closes. Every police station is open 24 hours. There are officers still working from them.”

He added: “There’s never a point at which we take police officers from one area to provide cover for a neighbouring area.”

Regarding the civilian-staffed helpdesks, he said: “We have rearranged the conditions and restructured the staffing levels so we can provide very flexible cover right around the divisions.”

Mr Weaver said nowadays the public visit a police station less than before.

He said the restructuring meant the service to the pubic was better managed, and that there was an increased number of options to get in touch with a police officer.