Ambulance response times in North and East Yorkshire have fallen well below Government targets, according to a report out today.

Research for Health Which? magazine showed that the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS) responded to 55.5 per cent of emergency calls within eight minutes, compared with a target of 75 per cent.

But TENYAS spokesman Nigel Metcalfe described the survey as "dated".

He said: "We have known all that for some time." The Government target had been set for April of next year.

"We are still gearing up for April. We have been given £1.2 million and we are currently recruiting more than 50 front line staff and we are also going to get seven fast response vehicles in addition to those we have already got, which will probably include motorcycles."

Mr Metcalfe said the service had already received £700,000 from the Department of Health, and the "gap" would be filled by the local health authorities.