West Oxfordshire District Council wants the Government to halt its plans merging Oxfordshire's Ambulance Trust and four others into one 'super' trust.

The council is writing to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt stating that the merger is not "in anyone's best interests".

Under the scheme Oxfordshire's trust is being scrapped and replaced by a single South Central Service NHS Trust, combining the county with Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

There has been controversy over consultation into the plans, with opponents describing it is as a "sham". West Oxfordshire District Council's letter has been sent in support of one already sent to the Government by Hampshire County Council, which states that the merger consultation was "flawed".

Hilary Biles, the district council's cabinet member for health, said: "Local people are best served by local services and rural areas already suffer from a lack of service.

"This merger is not in anyone's best interests."

The Department for Health said the merger would not lead to a reduction of front-line ambulance staff and that there would still be local ambulances and local paramedics.