NEW Year's Eve was the busiest night in the history of West Midlands Ambulance Service.

In the first three hours of 2010, the service received 1,269 ‘999’ calls, about the same number received in the first five hours of New Year’s Day 2009.

The service reports the number of ‘999’ calls increased towards midnight, but it was at the start of the New Year that the numbers began to increase, with a large proportion of calls being for alcohol-related incidents including people collapsing, falling over and injuring themselves, and fights and assaults.

The busiest time was from midnight until 3am during which time a ‘999’ call was received, on average, every nine seconds.

By 5am, the service had received 1,418 calls, 142 in Worcestershire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “The way in which the service dealt with the very significant increase in the number of 999 calls is a tribute to all the officers and staff of West Midlands Ambulance Service.

"The public should be very proud of all the staff and volunteers who have given up their night to ensure the safety of everyone who spent the night celebrating the coming of the New Year.”

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