REPLACEMENTS for controversial American-made ambulances, which were branded as unsafe by paramedics, will be on the roads by next spring.

North-East Ambulance Service (NEAS) officials have agreed to speed up the replacement of its remaining Chevrolet vehicles after securing additional funding.

When paramedics threatened to boycott them, the NEAS trust agreed to phase the vehicles out over five years. Now, the first batch of models under a rolling programme to replace all 59 front-line Chevrolets is due to be operating by March.

The Chevrolets, which make up half the service's 110-strong fleet, were bought from America in 1993 for their "superior crash protection".

But paramedics condemned them as unsafe and demanded replacements following a string of incidents, including two wheels falling off one ambulance during an emergency call and the failure of brakes and steering.

Ray McDermott, Unison branch representative for NEAS, said: "By March next year, we will have received 17 of these vehicles, and it's hoped to place an order for another 20 in April and a further 22 in April 2004.

"We also have an annual replacement of vehicles and how many will be replaced will be reviewed in 2004."

The new models will have a Mercedes chassis and patients will be transported in the middle instead of at the side of them to give paramedics better access.

They have been chosen by a specially-formed Vehicle Replacement Subgroup, comprising staff and management.

Mr McDermott said that while other models may be considered, he was confident of their safety.

He said: "We already have Mercedes Sprinters and they perform very well.

"We, as a branch, would like to see Chevrolets removed from the fleet altogether, but because of financial restraints, they may still be in the fleet, albeit not on the front-line."

NEAS spokesman Simon Featherstone said that the new Mercedes ambulance was well received by staff.

"I think most people will say thay are happy with the new vehicles," he said.