FRONTLINE ambulance staff from our region will head to London on Monday to make up the 440-strong ambulance team providing emergency assistance at the Olympic Games.

The 28 members of staff are made up of paramedics, operations team members and support services and have all undergone training for the three weeks they will be on duty at venues such as the Velodrome, Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service chief executive David Whiting, said: “The size of the challenge facing London Ambulance Service as the city puts on the ‘greatest show on earth’ shouldn’t be underestimated. We have been working with them for two years to prepare for the Olympics and are delighted that we can do our bit to support a safe and successful London Games.

“As far as day-to-day services across the Yorkshire and Humber region are concerned, it will very much be business as usual during the Games. We have planned very carefully to ensure there will be no impact on services here as a result of our staff supporting the Games in the capital.”