Proposals to merge two ambulance services have today been thrown out.

The decision by health minister Hazel Blears follows a public consultation on plans to combine Sussex Ambulance Service with neighbouring Kent.

Many people were against the plans because of the size of the new organisation.

They were worried about ambulances being able to reach people in time on emergency calls.

A shake up of health authority boundaries is also partly responsible for the decision.

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove and West Sussex health authorities are due to merge with two authorities in Surrey to form a new strategic health authority.

Having an ambulance service in Sussex with links to Kent would make the management of the service complicated.

The proposed new Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority and local Primary Care Trusts will look at the ambulance services in both counties and a report on their future will be made in September.

Ms Blears said: "We are committed to saving more lives by providing faster, more responsive and effective emergency ambulance services.

"I am confident services in the South East will meet the target of responding to 75 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes."

Sussex Ambulance has struggled to meet that target although it is currently managing to operate at about the 75 per cent level.

Director of operations Trevor Anderson said: "Our main concern is to provide the best service possible for people in Sussex.

"The decision not to go ahead with the merger ties in with the changes that are happening in the NHS locally.

"We are looking forward to taking part in the review of services that will be published later this year."