A NEW director has been appointed to run the emergency ambulance service in Essex.

Rob Ashford has been chosen as locality director for the county.

He will run the 999 service and sit on the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust board.

Mr Ashford has worked in the ambulance sector for 25 years.

He said: β€œI know the Essex area particularly well, having been a general manager and sector lead here during my career.

β€œIt will be a privilege to lead such dedicated and committed staff and I am determined to support them to give the best possible care to patients by getting more front line staff and ambulances in Essex.”