HAMPSHIRE ambulances could soon be covered with advertising slogans in a bid to ward off the threat of cuts.

Hampshire Ambulance Service, which faces a funding shortfall of almost £1m, is looking at proposals to allow commercial organisations to buy promotional space on its fleet of 240 vehicles.

Ambulances will be used as mobile advertising hoardings, but slogans for "inappropriate" products such as tobacco and alcohol will be banned.

Phil Trevorrow, the trust's finance director, said: "It's a pain-free way of generating more income, but it cannot detract from the fact that these are ambulances.

"It would need to involve reputable companies and we would not wish to advertise anything such as smoking."

The trust says the scheme could raise £250,000 a year, would help it make up a £900,000 shortfall in its funding this year.

Mr Trevorrow added: "If it puts money into the service we don't have to cut back elsewhere. We have a funding gap and need to look at ideas to close that."

Bert Jeremy, chairman of Hampshire Ambulance Patient and Public Involvement Forum, said: "Anything that creates more money has to be a good thing.

"The money has got to come from somewhere and it's what goes on inside the ambulance that's important, not what's on the outside."

The scheme was given a cautious welcome by the Patients' Association.

President Clare Rayner said: "That's how the world is these days and I am a realist. It might offend our sense of taste to see it, but life and health must come first."

The Department of Health has warned the trust that adverts must not undermine the integrity and independence of the NHS.