A decision on the future of Welshpool's air ambulance base faces new delays after another body stepped in to force through a fresh public consultation.

A last minute intervention by the independent statutory body Llais will now see a full public consultation, meaning the final decision on the future of the Welshpool base is likely to be delayed.

The preferred option for the future of the base following the previous consultations had been expected to come alongside the meeting of the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee for Wales on December 21.

In a letter to stakeholders Stephen Harrhy, who has led the consultations and who had been due to put forward his recommendations for the future of the service in his role as Chief Ambulance Services Commissioner for Wales, said: "I have received a letter from Alyson Thomas, Chief Executive of Llais about the next steps of the EMRTS Service Review.

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"Llais is the independent statutory body, set up by the Welsh Government to give the people of Wales much more say in the planning and delivery of their health and social care services – locally, regionally and nationally.

"The letter from Llais follows recent informal conversations that I have had with their Chief Executive and has now formally recommended that this Review is taken to a formal public consultation.

"Llais’ recommendation will now be presented to the EASC for consideration, instead of the ‘preferred option recommendation’ that was initially planned for the Committee on 21 December."

Powys County Council's Plaid Cymru leader Cllr Elwyn Vaughan responded: "Where have they been to now?

"It's blantly obvious that Welshpool and Caernarfon bases should stay open and locate a extra RRV in the North East to assist those communities. The whole process is dragging on - we just need a clear concise common sense decision and go for option 6 as i suggested."

More to follow.