Proposals to relocate Southend's ambulance station at the A127 Tesco store moved one step closer when it emerged talks were in the pipeline.

Chief executive of the Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Gron Roberts, revealed at a meeting with the Community Health Council that the Prince Avenue site would be strategically suitable for an ambulance station.

The ambulance station is moving out of Southend Hospital to make room for a new breast unit.

A spokesman for the Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust said today (Tuesday): "We are moving out of Southend Hospital and are looking for somewhere to relocate.

"It has always been said the Tesco site could be suitable and from an operational point of view, it is a good place to be based."

He added: "These proposals are at a very early stage. The talks are still unofficial and nothing concrete has been decided. Temporary arrangements are still being made to accommodate the ambulances at Southend Hospital."

Reg Copley (Lab, St Luke's), a member of the Community Health Council, has been involved in a long-running campaign to improve ambulance response times.

He said: "I'm delighted that progress seems to have been made."

No one from Tesco was available for comment.

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