ALMOST 900 people called for an ambulance in Essex on Christmas Day.

The East of England Ambulance Service dealt with 2,717 emergency calls across the region - up about 300 on an average day - with 874 in our county.

There were 40 more calls than on the same day last year, but the service thanked patients for a decrease of 360 calls across Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Ambulances took 1,241 people to hospital in the region on Christmas Day, while clinical support desks in the control room were able to give health advice to more minor cases allowing many people to stay in their own home and not use an ambulance.

Rob Ashford, acting director of service delivery, said: “Our staff are working as hard as ever over the period and I’m proud of all those who have been carrying out lifesaving work for the Trust over the past few days. From our call handlers, to the crews out on the roads, and everyone else - I’d like to say a huge thank you to them all.”

The public is urged to use the non-emergency 111 number of use out-of-hours GP services and walk-in centres for non-serious illnesses, but should always dial 999 for severe cases.