Canvey is not one of the ambulance stations which are earmarked for closure, an official list has confirmed.

Staff at the island's station had already been reassured by ambulance chiefs that the Canvey station would not be among those closing.

Now an official announcement has named the 12 stations that will face the axe.

Southend, Billericay, Corringham and Woodham Ferrers are among the stations affected.

The controversial idea is to base staff at strategic points, in health clinics, doctors surgeries and at the roadside.

Paul Leaman of the Essex Ambulance Service believes the proposals will save money and improve response times.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.