THE chief executive of the East of England Ambulance Service is spending more than £20,000 a year on taxis and hotels, it has been revealed.

Dr Anthony Marsh is getting paid £232,000-a-year for running the trust alongside the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

The expenses, on top of his salary and £33,000 pension contributions, means he is costing taxpayers more than an eye-watering £300,000 a year.

The East of England Ambulance Service has defended the bumper pay packet, saying it would cost much more to employ two different chief executives and pointed to the improvements he has already made during his first few months in charge.

See the full story in today's Gazette.