People of a Herefordshire town have joined thousands in signing a petition to keep an essential medical service going.

Welsh Air Ambulance is looking at closing its Powys base in Welshpool, and moving to North Wales.

It is a vital service that saves many lives every year by air lifting serious ill or injured patients to hospital in both Powys and across the border in the north and west of Herefordshire.

People in Kington say it is often called to the town and the surrounding areas if the Midlands Air Ambulance, based in Strensham in Gloucestershire, is already committed.

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With ambulance services in Herefordshire and over the border in Powys already stretched, locals are worried that the closure of this facility will further slow down response times to emergencies in the area.

Thomas Gaine said: "Please consider signing the petition to save the Air Ambulance for Powys and Mid Wales as well as for the border communities.

"As you know Powys ambulances are stretched to the limit and it could take a very long time to get to you if you fall ill or have a serious crash, especially on the A44."

Over 11,000 people have already signed the petition ahead of the public meeting, taking place in Newtown on Friday (September 9).

Independent county councillor for Powys, Joy Jones. stressed how important the service is for the rural communities that it serves.

Coun Jones said: "This service is extremely important due to the rural areas in which we live and the huge distances we have to travel for emergency care.

"With the pressure on road ambulances it is important that we keep the air ambulance in Powys where it can be scrambled quickly to reach patients.

"If this moves and ends up serving a larger area it will have a serious impact on patients' health and the urgent treatment they need to receive.

"We want the Welsh Air Ambulance to know how massively important they are to Mid Wales and rural Herefordshire and Shropshire."