NANTWICH is to get its own ambulance station as officials try to cut accident response times following a series of horrific crashes on the area's roads.

Local people have been campaigning for a base for paramedics at Nantwich Fire Station, in Beam Street, for around four years and are hopeful that the new ambulance station will save lives.

They renewed their calls after the most recent car crash on the notorious Middlewich Road, which claimed four lives on September 11.

Franz and Janice Beran, from Willaston, and 21-year-old Lee Roberts and father-of-four Darren Wilson, from Crewe, each lost their lives in the horror smash on the A530.

Campaigners claim that it took ambulances 30 minutes to reach the crash scene.

At a meeting last Wednesday Cheshire Fire Service agreed to trial the idea of an ambulance base within the local fire station, with periodic reviews taking place next year.

Cllr Arthur Moran said: "This has been a long-standing campaign and we are very pleased to see officials have taken notice.

"A rural town should have its own ambulance station in order to work to response times of eight minutes."

Nantwich firefighters are looking forward to working more closely with medics and hope the move will improve their service.

Chief firefighter Tim Day said: "This can only be a good thing - hopefully it will improve communication between fire and ambulance services, as it is essential we work well together, and give firefighters more opportunities for emergency medical training."

The dedicated station already has on board a first responder, Gavin Palin, and a fully qualified paramedic in Leroy Rogerson.