A health chief has resigned after the NHS trust which runs Sussex ambulances fiddled figures for response times.

Trevor Anderson, director of operations at Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SAST), is stepping down with immediate effect.

His decision to "further his career elsewhere" comes after an investigation by the Audit Commission, which discovered irregularities in the trust's response times data.

Government targets state 75 per cent of emergency 999 calls should be reached within eight minutes of receiving a call.

SAST recorded some calls as answered within the limits which crews had in fact taken longer to reach.

A statement from Sussex and Surrey Strategic Health Authority, which overseas the work of SAST, stated: "Some months ago Sussex Ambulance Trust identified irregularities in its data for response times and invited the Audit Commission to carry out an audit.

"The Audit Commission confirmed there were irregularities with regard to data collection and made a number of recommendations. The trust has since implemented these recommendations."

The strategic health authority has since asked an independent consultant to monitor the work of SAST.

A spokesman said no recommendation was made for Mr Anderson to step down.

Mr Anderson joined SAST ten years ago and has spent 24 years in the ambulance service.

SAST chief executive David Griffiths said: "Trevor Anderson has decided to further his career elsewhere and leave SAST."

It is believed Mr Anderson had not been at work for several weeks before his departure was announced yesterday.

His resignation follows a troubled year, which has seen industrial action by ambulance workers over pay and conditions.

Recently, The Argus revealed concern among paramedics that St John Ambulance and Red Cross volunteers had been sent out on the highest category of emergencies due to high sickness levels among trust staff.

Trade union Unison has blamed the sickness levels on stress.

Mr Anderson's resignation follows the sacking in September of chairman Patrick Herbert after Government assessors ruled there was a culture of bullying at the trust.

Talks between unions and management are ongoing to help solve some of the problems.

Agreements have been reached on enhanced weekend overtime rates, a whistle-blowing policy and a review of stand-by points in remote roadside locations where ambulance crews are placed in case of an emergency.

All these contributed to industrial action by crews earlier this year.