Two 999 calls a minute as Yorkshire Ambulance Service crews faced busy New Year’s Eve

Yorkshire Ambulance Service, which has been struggling to cope with unprecedented demand from 999 callers, said paramedics were called to 51 assaults between midnight and 3am.

The service received 1,570 emergency calls - a rate of two per minute - between 6pm and 6am.

Paramedics also faced a six per cent increase in the number of the most serious “red” call outs between midnight and 8am on New Year’s Day.

Paul Mudd, locality director of A&E operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “As always New Year’s Eve was a busy time for us and we received a high volume of alcohol-related calls, particularly in the early hours of the morning.

“In the early hours of New Year’s Day we received a significant number of emergency calls to patients who had been assaulted while out celebrating the start of 2015.

“Clearly this is distressing for those directly involved, but it also places extra pressure on us and partner services.”

Bosses at the ambulance service have appealed for people only to dial 999 in a genuine emergency.