GWENT AMs are calling for action to be taken after 21 new ambulances are being kept off the roads in Wales due to design concerns.

The Welsh Ambulance Service was due to start operating 42 new vehicles weeks ago with each ambulance said to cost around £158,000.

But 21 have yet to be deployed after officials ordered inspections with regards to their suitability.

According to reports, 56 potential problems have been identified - including 12 "serious issues’’ which could compromise safety.

They include positioning of seats, cupboards and handles, a shortage of interior space and concerns with the safety of the rear doors.

It is thought the bill for modifying the ambulances could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle said she would be writing to the ambulance trust for a full and urgent explanation and had requested a meeting with the new Health Minister Lesley Griffiths to raise the matter.

She said: "In places like Torfaen, we’ve yet to see the consistent and sustained improvement to response times that local people deserve and I’m angry that money which could have been spent on the front line will now have to be diverted to put these problems right."

Newport East AM John Griffiths added: "It is really important for the ambulance service to look at what happened and to go back to the suppliers and get the problems rectified as quickly as possible."

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies said: "I hope the design issues will be resolved as soon as possible to make sure that the huge investment we have seen put into the ambulance service is used to help us achieve the response times we expect."

The ambulance service confirmed it will carry out adjustments and said the new vehicles would be in service at the "earliest opportunity".

A spokesman said: "None of the current fleet marked for replacement by these new ambulances will be taken out of service until they are ready, so this decision will not have any impact on the current service provided to the public by the Welsh Ambulance Service.’’