A two wheeled paramedic scheme set to trailed in the town centre is looking for a base to help secure its future.

The cycling paramedic is due to start working 12 hour daily shifts in Kingston from next Monday, November 15, working either 7am to 7pm or 10am to 10pm.

The three month trial aims to cut response times to the town centre, which can take ambulances up to 10 minutes, and ensure better access to pedestrian areas.

However, the London ambulance service is appealing for a nearby ground floor base where the paramedic could have a cup of tea or rest during the day.

A similar scheme which saw a triage nurse in the town centre on weekend evenings floundered when a permanent home could not be found.

Councillor Dave Ryder-Mills, chair of Kingston town neighbourhood, said: “It’s a win, win situation. You are wasting less ambulance service time whilst getting a faster response to incidents that can be treated by a paramedic.”

He dismissed safety concerns about the paramedic cycling too quickly through the crowded town centre.

He said he or she would be careful to ride slowly or walk a busy times, but would still get to the scene quicker than ambulances.