Prime Minister David Cameron has been briefed on the value of Narberth's Co-responder unit by local MP Simon Hart.

Mr Hart was in Downing Street as part of a special meeting to discuss services in rural areas.

"It was an opportunity for those of us who represent rural seats to raise the special concerns that affect only our communities," he said.

"I was the only Welsh MP there and was able to bring to his attention the vital role that the Co-responder service plays in an area where only 38% of ambulances reach an emergency 999 call within eight minutes."

Narberth's Co-responder service is an emergency vehicle manned by trained firefighters which provides a rapid response to 999 calls. In rural areas the Co-responders often preserve lives until the arrival of a fully equipped ambulance.

But the Welsh Ambulance Service, which decides when to call out the Co-responder service and also pays for them, stopped using the Narberth unit last summer. It is now gradually starting to use the service again and a petition is now circulating Narberth to call for it to be safeguarded.

"The petition has already gathered more than 500 signatures and we have had some very interesting evidence come in from residents who have had to rely on the fast response provided by the Narberth unit," added Mr Hart.