A NEW fleet of 4x4 ambulances is set to hit Worcestershire's roads.

West Midlands Ambulance Service now has 16 specially designed emergency vehicles, one of which will be based at each ambulance hub around the whole of the WMAS region.

This is part of an investment in vehicle replacements and the new Mercedes ambulances will enable ambulance crews to get to patients in difficult weather and muddy off-road conditions.

Craig Cooke, WMAS support services director, said: “The new vehicles will mean that for the first time we will have a full size ambulance with 4x4 capabilities. This investment in new vehicles will help us provide high quality clinical services to people who suffer serious injuries or medical conditions when they are out and about on uneven and difficult to access terrain. This should improve the comfort and care to patients and offer a much better working environment for our staff."

The cost of one of the new 4x4 ambulances is £140,000 compared to £100,000 for a normal new two wheel drive ambulance.