A £21 million contract has been awarded to O&H Vehicle Conversions to supply West Midlands Ambulance Service with 220 of the most technically advanced and efficient ambulances.

The front line ambulances will be supplied over the next four years as WMAS follows a five-year front line fleet replacement policy.

O&H uses lighter, stronger materials that increase vehicle durability and lower weight, reducing fuel consumption and cutting CO2 emissions.

WMAS Fleet Services general manager Tony Page said: 'O&H scored well in the tender process. The vehicle layout and engineering ideas they included were first rate and the steps they have taken to reduce vehicle weight are first class.

'Along with our staff, our emergency vehicles are our most important asset. The five-year replacement policy means that staff can respond using a modern, good-quality ambulance fleet that is reliable and efficient.

'We have been working with our staff and O&H to come up with an innovative design that will mean better working conditions and that will make it easier to provide good-quality, comfortable care to patients in their hour of need.

'Our ambulances will be easier to drive and more fuel efficient, with lower CO2 emissions and less wear and tear. We are also looking at the introduction of lithium ion battery technology and solar panels. This all ultimately saves money that can be reinvested in recruiting more paramedics, which can only be a good thing for patients'

O&H sales and marketing director Lee Bott said: 'We look forward to supporting West Midlands Ambulance Service's strategic objectives with a best-in-class fleet founded on engineering innovation and manufacturing excellence'

WMAS covers an area of 5,000 square mile, with a population of 5.5 million. It was the only English ambulance trust to exceed every performance metric in 2015-16.

O&H Vehicle Conversions has been an established vehicle converter since 1988. Its specialisms include front line A&E Ambulances, patient transport ambulances; Patient Practitioner Vehicles and Rapid Response Vehicles as well as wheelchair access vehicles, welfare vans, crew vehicles and minibuses.

The company is based in Goole, East Yorkshire, where it has a dedicated 60,000sq ft factory.