Shock calls to 999 centre

A 32-year-old man called the ambulance control centre for Shropshire with a 999 request for an ambulance because he "couldn't walk after dancing too much", it was revealed today.

And another person called the centre after finding a dead pigeon - in the hope an ambulance crew might be able to resuscitate it. West Midlands Ambulance Service said the calls were among a series of non-emergency 999 alerts.

They have put the local ambulance service at full stretch.

An increasing number of people are dialling up for emergency crews, wasting time and putting lives at risk, the service added.

Other calls made in the last 12 months to the control centre based in Brierley Hill include:

* A lady who wanted a crew to get her washing in because her footpath was covered in snow and ice.

* A man who said he needed an ambulance because his eyes were hurting, before revealing that he had been playing on his games console for six hours.

*A man requesting an ambulance because he could not find his trousers.

* A man ringing to apologise for being a pest caller the day before, when he called the same number numerous times.

* Staff at a care home requesting an ambulance to take them to a job interview at a hospital.

Today Murray MacGregor, communications director with West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "Quite often we have what sound like genuine calls, but when a crew gets there, the 'patient' reveals the real reason for the call.

"Such 'reasons' have included requests to make toast or heat up a Pot Noodle, requests to plump up my pillows or pick up a bar of chocolate and even change the channel on the TV because the home owner can't be bothered to get up from the chair."

Mr MacGregor added: "While these cases are undoubtedly amusing because they almost unbelievable, it does highlight a very real issue that potentially puts the lives of other people at risk."

He said if they were tied up with these calls they were not able to deal with people who had genuinely life-threatening conditions.