COTSWOLD District Council will join forces with members from the Forest of Dean and Stroud to fight for improved ambulance cover.

The failure of the Great Western Ambulance Trust was highlighted last May when an ambulance took 45 minutes to get to Royal Agricultural College student Rebecca Wedd who died after being hit by a car.

CDC's overview and scrutiny committee agreed to carry out a review of the service with Gloucestershire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC) and the two other district councils.

Coun Margaret Edney (Stratton, Lib Dem) said: "The statistics are showing that Great Western is underperforming in many ways and it is a matter of concern.

"Without the HOSC we won't be able to produce as informative and powerful a report."

However, Coun Alex Palmer (Con, Kempsford-Lechlade) said a joint group with other district councils would limit its effect.

"This whole thing has been manipulated to reduce the amount of noise that can be made in the community so it only comes from one group. The Cotswolds is the worst affected area," he said.

But members of the O&S committee voted in favour of joining the group.

Coun Peter Braidwood (Beeches, Cons) said: "Without having the power to call on people and make them answer questions we could end up making a lot of noise and achieving nothing."