AMBULANCE response times in Wiltshire vary considerably, the latest figures show.

In Wiltshire, Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) has failed to meet the 75 per cent target of sending an ambulance to calls about life-threatening conditions within eight minutes.

Since April, it has had a response rate of 69.7 per cent.

In Swindon, GWAS has achieved a response rate of 89.8 per cent so far, the highest rate across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Avon.

Due to over-performance in urban areas, including Swindon, GWAS is now achieving an overall 76.2 per cent response.

At a joint scrutiny committee meeting, held in Chippenham last Friday, Wiltshire councillor Ian McLennan asked if ambulances were “tied” to Swindon.

Tim Stockings, the associate director for field operations at GWAS, said: “We do not ring-fence ambulances for Swindon.

“If there’s a call somewhere else, we despatch the nearest and quickest ambulance response.”

He said ambulances were put in locations where data suggested they were in the best position to respond to calls and demands at particular times of the day and night.

Mr Stockings added: “The challenge with Wiltshire is it is spread over a much larger area than Swindon.”