PROPOSALS to close ambulance stations in rural County Durham could cost lives, a councillor has warned.

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is looking into options for the manning of its rural ambulance stations.

The preferred proposal is to replace ambulance stations in Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale and St Johns Chapel with community paramedics who respond to emergencies in cars rather than in two-man ambulances.

However, John Shuttleworth, county councillor for Weardale, has said there is need for more consultation with local people over the plans and several questions have still to be answered.

He said: "People here see closing the ambulance station as taking away a service.

"I think it will cause deaths before anything is done about it"

Three rural stations in Northumberland are also under threat.

Other options include keeping the status quo, having the ambulance station manned for 24 hours, or introducing 12 hour cover.

The community paramedics would be on duty 24 hours a day, unlike the present situation where paramedics are on a stand-by system from their homes after-hours.

A scrutiny meeting of county council and ambulance service officials, as well as local district councillors, met at Teesdale District Council offices, in Barnard Castle, this week.

The health scrutiny committee chairman Coun John Priestley said: "We called this meeting to see how the land lies.

"There was a mixed reception with some people who were thinking positively about the plans and others who were against it."

Tina McCrindle, of NEAS, said the service was eager to speak with people and community groups about the proposals.

To date, ambulance officials have attended 12 meetings and there are another 36 meetings planned for this month and September.

She added: "We're still in the discussion phase and we'll be taking people's views in the consultation period which starts shortly.

"From the consultation we'll come to a decision, but nothing's been decided yet."

A public meeting to discuss the proposals will be held at the Manor House Hotel, West Auckland, on Thursday, September 1, at 6.30pm.

Transport can be provided. For details, call (01388) 762220.