The campaign for a 24-hour ambulance station in Whitland stepped up a gear this week with the news that nearly 70 town and community councils throughout the whole of West Wales are backing the efforts to improve night-time ambulance cover in the area.

Campaign organiser Llyr Hughes Griffiths has been inundated with letters of support from the councils representing communities stretching from St. David's in the west to Aberaeron in the north and Llanelli in the east.

"We would like to thank all the councils who are backing our campaign, " he said. "Having written to all the town and community councils in West Wales asking for their support, the response has surpassed all our expectations. Indeed, more letters of support are still arriving daily.

"These letters will now be forwarded to Jane Hutt, the Assembly Health Minister, with copies to the Welsh Ambulance Trust, to illustrate how strongly people feel about this issue. There are very serious concerns that lives are being put at risk under the current situation.

"The lack of 24-hour cover at Whitland is leaving a gaping hole in the emergency ambulance cover for the whole of West Wales. Recent incidents have forced ambulances from other stations to respond to Whitland calls which leaves their own area exposed. As a result, ambulances from elsewhere have to cover for their absence which is causing an unnecessary domino effect. We are concerned that this leaves many communities vulnerable and puts people's lives at risk."

There is also serious concern about the pressure being put on the ambulance workers at Whitland who sometimes have to work up to 14 hours a day. They are currently expected to work consecutive shifts on call and then on stand-by for up to seven consecutive days in a job that sometimes can be the difference between life and death.