In 2006 the service said it would reach 80% of life-threatening incidents within six minutes, but last year crews only made it to 55%.

BBC: South Yorkshire fire service misses response time target

At the moment, ambulances in the capital reach just 40% of patients with life-threatening illnesses within eight minutes.

BBC: Ambulance crisis 'killing hundreds'

National guidelines state that an emergency response vehicle should reach 75% of patients deemed to be in a life threatening condition within eight minutes.

BBC: Amy Carter and Bella Hellings