The East of England Ambulance Service Trust is preparing to roll out 40 new ambulances in its fleet this winter.

40 new Renault Master ambulances were bought by the Trust to replace older vehicles.

20 have been delivered and will be hitting the road in Cambridgeshire soon, with the rest due to be in service by the end of December.

The new vehicles will make up around 10 per cent of the total ambulance fleet, and will include new technology to turn off idling engines, cut fuel use and reduce emissions.

Ford Transits and MAN TGE-based vehicles will also be joining the fleet over the autumn.

Wayne Lawlor, head of fleet for the Trust said: “Our fleet of vehicles are worked hard - seven days and week – covering more than 1 million miles a month, and our Mercedes ambulances are due to be retired this year.

"The new Renaults will replace these and our crews and patients will have the benefit of newer ambulances as we go into the worst months of winter. 

"Our fleet team will be working to replace the aging Mercedes and early generation FIATS and replace them with the new vehicles in the coming weeks."