LOCAL MP John Maples has responded to the consultation on proposals to merge the region's ambulance services.

Mr Maples said the Warwickshire Ambulance Service was efficient and provided an excellent service in the county and should be allowed to continue.

He said: "I believe local people will support the current arrangements and they have great confidence in our local ambulance service.

''I am concerned services for rural areas would not be as efficiently or sympathetically run if they were amalgamated into a much larger regional urban service."

Under the proposals, the ambulance trusts in Coventry and Warwickshire, West Midlands and Shropshire, Staffordshire and Hereford and Worcester, would merge into the world's largest ambulance trust - serving a population of 5.5 million people.

The merger is part of a cost-cutting plan by the Government which ministers claim would free up £3 million.

Mr Maples said: "It seems to be that the likelihood of achieving this is not 100 per cent and there will be start-up and disruption costs involved in the merger."