Ambulance fleet to go euro-yellow

Britian's traditionally white ambulances are to be repainted yellow in line with the rest of Europe.

By painting all ambulances the same colour, emergency services aim to make roads safer across the Continent.

The exact shade - Euro Yellow RAL 1016 - was chosen after research carried out on behalf of the European Committee for Standardisation.

Tourists travelling in Europe can often be confused. A common mistake in France is confusing red ambulances for fire engines.

Ambulances in Britain are white with reflective yellow and green markings. The first service to adopt the new colour is the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust.

The Trust's chief executive Keith Nuttall, said: "The new yellow colour gives greater ambulance visibility for all road users and enhances the safety of emergency staff, who spend most of their working lives in the hostile environment of our busy, dangerous and congested roads."

A London Ambulance spokesman said: "Our rapid response units already have a yellow bonnet. We are aware of the recommendations and will be monitoring Berkshire with interest."

However, Tory MP Bill Cash said it was another example of loss of British identity.

"It's just completely unnecessary. Everybody knows what our ambulances look like," he said.