A POSSIBLE ambulance service shake-up is to be discussed at a public meeting tomorrow.

South Durham and Weardale Community Health Council is holding a forum to discuss the possible merger or resiting of ambulance stations in the area, in order to meet new rapid response times demanded by the Government.

The meeting takes place in the Eden Theatre, at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, at 6.30pm.

New Government rules require that 75 per cent of urgent calls should be met within eight minutes, but presently the service only meets 43 per cent.

Plans include relocating Crook station to Willington, and moving Fishburn station to Ferryhill.

It has also been suggested that in the long term, sites at Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland should be closed and replaced with new ones.