More than 1,000 Worcester News readers have voiced their support for the daily paper's campaign against plans to close the city's ambulance control room.

The 'Keep It Local' campaign was launched with an online and in-paper petition.

The number of names on the petition has now topped the 1,000-mark.

The local Ambulance Trust wants to centralise its call centres in the West Midlands. Its plans would see just two call rooms serving the region. Worcester's control room at Bransford is under threat of closure as a result.

The Trust says regional control rooms would provide a safer, more co-ordinated service for the public.

Worcester News editor Kevin Ward said: "We have considered the Trust's proposals in detail. The reality is that closing Worcester's control room would make the Trust in excess of £600,000 on the sale of the land.

"We think these plans are based on cost-cutting rather than improving patient care.

"In particular, the loss of staff from Bransford and their years of local knowledge could be potentially dangerous.

"The support we have had from readers has been exceptional, particularly as our campaign was pushed back in the paper by the recent floods in Worcestershire.

"Our plan is to print all the names on the petition both in print and online.

"We hope the Ambulance Trust reacts to the level of public opposition and thinks again about its plans."

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