EMERGENCY 999 calls for an Ambulance continue to rocket in Hereford and Worcester.

For the 12 months ending March 30, the service had more than 53,000 pleas for help compared with 48,000 the year before, an increase of 10.4%.

Emergency calls have been going up steadily since 2001-2, when the figure was 36,686.

Despite the increase Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service has again achieved key national performance targets for the last year.

It has responded to 75% of life threatening calls within eight minutes and 95% of non-life threatening calls within 19 minutes.

Chief executive Russell Hamilton has heaped praise on ambulance staff for their hard work and dedication.

He included everyone, from call-takers to mechanics, paramedics, technicians and managers, saying all had a part to play in the success of the trust this year.

Mr Hamilton said Hereford and Worcester was among only a handful of ambulance trusts who had achieved both key targets.

"I am very pleased to reassure the people of Herefordshire and Worcestershire we are able to provide a responsive service despite the challenges of serving a rural population,'' he said.