Heart attack victims in Winchester and Eastleigh could soon find their chances of survival significantly improved with the introduction of motorcycle paramedics.

The motorcycle service is being pilot ed by Hampshire Ambulance to speed up response times in areas where con ventional ambulances can find them selves snarled up in traffic.

"Our target is to attend 75 per cent of all life-threatening emergencies within eight minutes of receiving the call," said Richard Mawson, chief executive of Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

"We have bettered that tar get each month this year, and the motorcycle service will help us to pro vide similar levels of service even when we have to negotiate heavy traf fic."

The motorcycle paramedics will carry new state-of-the art equipment cur rently being fitted to ambulances in a phased programme. It consists of new life pack defibulators which are part of a £110 million investment from the New Opportunities Fund to reduce coronary heart disease - the nation's biggest killer.

"This new advanced equipment will give us better patient diagnosis so that we can learn more about the condition of patients at the scene," said Mr Mawson. "It also provides us with a telemetry link to hospitals so that paramedics can liaise while the patient is in transit.

Mr. Mawson said that the new equipment coupled with improved performance in attending life-threatening calls would save around 50 lives a year in Hampshire.

The motorcycle paramedics will be trained in road skills by Hampshire Police.