Controversial plans to leave mid Wales without an air ambulance base have been described as a "travesty" amid concerns about "badly stretched" land ambulance services in Powys and Shropshire.

Liberal Democrat councillors from both Shropshire and Powys have joined forces to challenge the Wales Air Ambulance's proposal to move from Welshpool Airport after discussions with airport management about the supposed lack of ability to operate at night for its 24-hour service.

"This is patently not the case," said Churchstoke councillor Danny Bebb. “Basing these helicopters only on the North Wales coast and the Vale of Glamorgan would be a travesty. Those areas have good road networks and several large hospitals.

"In rural Powys and Shropshire we need the rapid response times these helicopters give to allow many patients a chance of survival.”

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Ruth Houghton said: "Air ambulances operate on both sides of the border according to circumstance and availability. Adding another 20 minutes plus flight time to potential rescue flights would create a potentially big gap in capability not just in mid Wales but Shropshire too. With our ground-based ambulance service so badly stretched, this could create serious problems“

Nigel Hartin agreed, adding: “The Wales Air Ambulance and the West Midlands Air Ambulance both operate in our area and many Community Councils and local groups fundraise for both. It impact quite significantly on the money raised for the latter if they went ahead with this proposal, which frankly looks like a cost-cutting exercise.

The four councillors have now asked for a special meeting with the Air Ambulance, and Heather Kidd has asked Shropshire Council’s Cabinet to lobby the charity against proceeding with the closure.

Proposals by the Welsh NHS Emergency Medical Retrieval and transfer Service (EMRTS) and the Wales Air Ambulance Charity would see the closure of the Welshpool and Caernarfon bases and the crews combined into a new North Wales base.

A decision is expected to be made next year.