AMBULANCE bosses have urged revellers to drink sensibly on 'Mad Friday' and only call for an ambulance in the event of a genuine emergency.

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of accidents in the UK and the problem intensifies during the festive season when alcoholic drinks often play a central part celebrations.

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service asked people to think about the consequences of drinking to excess and reminding them to drink sensibly to keep themselves, and others, safe and well.

The Service usually sees a significant increase in the number of 999 calls on the last Friday before Christmas, which has become known as Mad Friday.

Calls to the trust’s 999 emergency operations centre rose by 33 per cent between 6pm and 6am on the last Friday before Christmas last year with a similar jump in calls expected during this year’s festivities.

Dr Julian Mark, YAS executive medical director, said: “Our emergency ambulances are a lifeline to patients who find themselves in a genuine life-threatening emergency such as a heart attack or stroke, but our staff are often involved in looking after people who have drunk excessively or have sustained alcohol-fuelled injuries which could have been avoided.

“We don’t want to stop people enjoying a night out, but we’re asking that they drink sensibly to avoid the need to call 999 and keep ambulances available for those who genuinely need them."