An ambulance service is planning to move its HQ and 999 call centre out of Banstead.

South East Coast Ambulance Service plans to relocate from the site in the Horseshoe to a proposed new development in Crawley.

A spokesman said the facilities in Banstead are "not fit for purpose" and it is not possible to redevelop the site cost effectively. He said: "Ambulances do not respond from Banstead. We don’t yet have firm plans for the future of our Banstead site. The move would not take place before the end of 2016."

Sue Skelton, SECAmb’s acting assistant director of clinical operations, said: "The public should be reassured that our plans will not have an impact on the way we deliver the service other than improving the service we offer.

"Staff will also have new, fit-for-purpose facilities they can be proud to work in.

"The plans will provide us with the additional capacity we need to match the rising 999 demand and allow more clinicians to be on hand to help direct patients to the right healthcare.

"With 999 calls having increased by about 25 per cent since 2007 and with demand forecast to increase by five per cent year-on-year, we can’t afford to do nothing."