The emergency vehicle for the emergency services!

This month, Essex based conversion and mobility specialists, Stanford Coachworks have diversified once again and converted their first two Land Rover vehicles.

The company, founded in 1998, delivered the first Land Rover 110 last week to M & L Ambulance Service in London with a second to be delivered at the end of this week.

The 4x4 vehicles have been modified with an additional FERNO stretcher in the back along with the installation of emergency, safety and medical equipment. The Land Rover conversion has a multitude of uses, the main being for use in bad weather for the retrieval of ambulances and other service vehicles. The two 110s will be able to pick up patients in remote and difficult access areas across the region and meet fully equipped ambulances at a central point over the winter season.

"These are the first vehicles of this kind that we have converted," explains Jess Rider, Stanford's Co-Director.

"Subject to the success of the Land Rovers we hope to be able offer this type of conversion on a regular basis throughout the UK."

Stanford Coachworks are members of the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association, employing 35 people, and carry out conversions of around 350 vehicles every year from luxury mini-coaches, high-class luxury limousines (full-height vehicles), wheelchair-accessible minibuses, patient transport services, ambulance conversions, school buses and charity minibuses.

The firm has been ISO9001/2008 certified since 2001 and are moving towards the EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval certification. The process has required a significant time and money investment from Stanford yet they are set to reap the benefits of a better service to clients and assured quality.