A new vehicle is being stationed at Ludlow Hospital 12 hours a day from Monday.

The ambulance will ensure a faster response time in parts of Ludlow and the surrounding area.

Ham Patel, acting district commander for Shropshire Ambulance Service, said their present base was in Craven Arms.

Permanent service

"We've worked hard to get this in place, it's meant a �70,000 investment in the area," he said.

"Hopefully it will be a permanent service."

Mr Patel said the ambulance was one of several schemes introduced to improve the service.

Paramedics in parts of south Shropshire are training volunteers to become responders so they can provide basic first aid until an ambulance arrives.