EAST Midlands Ambulance Service has again failed to hit target times for responding to emergency calls.

The figures for December, show that EMAS reached 72.8 per cent of the most serious calls – known as category A8 – within eight minutes.

The target is 75 per cent, and the national average for December was 74 per cent.

EMAS also failed to hit targets for responding to less serious emergency calls.

Ambulances should attend 95 per cent of these calls – category A19 – within 19 minutes.

EMAS reached 90.9 per cent, against a national average of 96.1 per cent.

Pete Ripley, director of operations for EMAS, said winter was busy and during December there were peaks of high demand.

He added that pressures at hospitals could also delay ambulance crews.

He said: "We continue to work with our commissioners and healthcare colleagues so we can identify how we can improve performance."