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Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) is reaching 75% of the most urgent emergency calls within eight minutes.

The figure is up from 68% last year (2008-09) and means the trust and is now reaching government targets.

But although progress has been made in reaching the less serious "Category B" 999 calls, it falls short of the target figure.

The trust operates emergency care and patient transport in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the greater Bristol area.

David Whiting, GWAS Chief Executive, said: "How quickly we reach our patients is clearly a significant part of the service we are here to provide.

"The fact that GWAS has met these important national performance standards - despite responding to 10% more 999 calls than the previous year - is a sure sign of the progress the trust continued to make last year."

The figures are collated annually for all ambulance trusts by the NHS Information Centre.