Ambulance cover in Dymock will be improved with news that night-time crews will be introduced at Newent station.

Gloucestershire Ambulance Service says the crews will be introduced on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On other nights the village will be served, as it is now, by Gloucester and Ledbury stations, and by ambulances at strategic points around the Forest of Dean area.

The news follows concerns about the shake-up raised by Dymock Parish Council, first expressed by resident Dorothy Brooke, a new parish councillor.

Her husband, David, was airlifted by air ambulance to Cheltenham General Hospital last September, following a heart attack.

Coun Brooke praised the prompt response, but feared the review would cut ground cover.

A parish council request for information was sent to Keith Scott, director of operations for the service.

Mr Scott said: "We are currently in negotiations with staff at Newent to amend shift patterns. Regardless of which swift pattern is agreed with staff, there will be an increase of operational hours at the station, and not a reduction."

But parish councillor Penny Ely is still not satisfied at the level of cover.

She said: "Obviously, they are going to increase the hours, but it is still not a 24 hour service from Newent on every day of the week, and people are more likely to be ill at night."