West Midlands Ambulance Service airing calls to highlight improper 999 use

A hedgehog scaring some children and a demand for a glass of water are just two of the ridiculous reasons people have dialled 999.

Audio of calls including for lost keys, a taxi home, and a prank call are being released by West Midlands Ambulance Service as part of a week-long awareness campaign about inappropriate use.

Jeremy Brown, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s general manager responsible for emergency operations centres, said: “My control room staff are currently dealing with around 3,000 999 calls a day.