The news that ambulances from as far away as Monmouth are dealing with Pembrokeshire's 999 calls is worrying county residents.

Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies has heard from householders and community councillors who were dismayed to hear that ambulances were travelling such long distances to reach emergency call outs.

"On more than 500 occasions last year 999 call outs were dealt with by ambulances based outside the county," said Mr Davies.

"Whilst I can understand that it may be quicker to send an ambulance from Carmarthenshire to a 999 call in Llandewi Velfrey which is in Pembrokeshire, this is still a very high figure."

The information was uncovered by Conservative Parliamentary candidate Simon Hart who, using the Freedom of Information Act, discovered that vehicles based outside the county were called on a total of 544 times. The vast majority of these came from neighbouring Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. But on 24 occasions vehicles were dispatched from North Powys, Cardiff, Newport and even Monmouthshire in east Wales.

"Obviously this has caused great concern as ambulances travelling that far are going to take longer to reach an emergency," said Mr Davies.

"I was at a community council meeting last week and members expressed concern at the figures." Mr Davies has now written to Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart about the issue.

"I have asked her to look into the situation and to explain how it has arisen. We have six crews on call each day in Pembrokeshire so why were they unable to attend?" he added.

"Ambulance staff in Wales are doing a terrific job but this is yet another indication that the service is close to breaking point."