PARAMEDICS in Frinton will remain based at the town’s fire station until the end of the year after a pilot scheme was extended.

In January, ambulance bosses moved lifesavers 130 metres down the road, from Frinton’s dedicated ambulance station in Pole Barn Lane to a fire station “bolthole”.

Emergency service chiefs said the move was designed to improve response times – a claim which sparked criticism from baffled town councillors.

But the scheme has now been extended until the end of the year, while five other fire stations in Essex will follow suit and act as ambulance bases. Bosses say the Frinton fire station was a better location for paramedics because it offered improved access when certain roads were closed.

Fire service spokesman Mark Wilby said: “The facility allows the ambulance service to have more people in the right places when they are needed and should get ambulances to people quicker. It has already been successful in Frinton, so nowwe are extending the scheme further.”

The ambulance station is still open and used by paramedics for some parts of the job.

The pilot scheme will be looked at again at the end of the year.