The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) says members are extremely concerned about the possible impacts of a proposed restructuring of Wales Air Ambulance services which could lead to the closure of air ambulance bases at Welshpool and Caernarfon.

FUW Montgomeryshire County Executive Officer Emyr Davies said: “The plans have come as a big shock to our members in Montgomeryshire and across mid Wales, and it is a source of great worry.

“We all know someone who has had their life saved by the Welshpool air ambulance, often because of the critical minutes and seconds saved as a result of having a service based in the heart of Wales.”

Mr Davies said that many farmers and their family members were among those whose lives had been saved, as well as many others living in isolated communities in regions where accident and emergency centres have been closed and traditional services have been whittled away.

Wales Air Ambulance said that the proposals would allow its service to meet a greater demand for its service than at present, including attending more missions in Powys each year.

Mr Davies said: “The bottom line is that it’s difficult to see how moving an air ambulance base from Wales’ most rural county would benefit Wales’ most rural areas.”