AMBULANCE response times for the Vale of Glamorgan have been missed yet again for the 19th consecutive month.

By the end of May just over half of all emergency calls in the Vale were responded to within the eight minute target.

Figures for May show that 55.8 per cent of emergency responses were within the target time, an improvement on April's figures but still below the Welsh average of 59.4 per cent.

The Welsh target is 65 per cent, the lowest in the UK.

Regional AM, Andrew RT Davies, expressed his disappointment at the statistics.

“Any improvement in performance is welcome," he said, "and all credit must go to the frontline staff who day in, day out, go out and save lives.

“The Vale of Glamorgan has a number of challenges due to its rural nature but it’s now crucial that Carwyn Jones, Labour’s health minister and the Cardiff and Vale Health Board take steps to implement their commitment to improve and transform the service."

Leader of the Welsh Conservative group Mr Davies - who lives in the Vale - added: "In an immediately life-threatening situation, the length of time waiting for an ambulance can make the difference between life and death.

“Residents across the Vale of Glamorgan will rightly question 19 consecutive months of missed targets and it is disappointing that performance in the Vale continues to lag behind other parts of Wales.”