Emergency calls are up by 15% over the same period last year

The East Anglian Ambulance Trust exceeded their January target, reaching 77.7% of 4,247 life-threatening calls within eight minutes.

This tops the government target of 75%, and was only bettered last March.

The Trust's time for responding to urgent GP calls also increased, with over 96% of patients reaching hospital within the allotted time.

Paul Sutton, director of operations, said it was important for patients of GP's to receive a first class service.

"Considering the awful weather conditions during some of January, we are delighted that our staff have responded to the challenge," he said.

The service handled 12,773 emergency calls in January 2004 - compared with 11,134 calls received over the same period last year.

The Trust provides emergency and non-emergency transport services in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire.