AS THE Evening Press appeal to raise £45,000 to buy a new ambulance for the region gets under way some unusual stories of first-aid adventures have come to light.

In a typical year, St John Ambulance volunteers are on hand at a wide variety of public events, ranging from York Races and York City home games, to the smallest of church fetes, and they are responsible for treating a whole range of casualties from heart attacks to nettle rash and just about everything in between.

But some of the emergencies are somewhat bizarre.

An early contender for the title "most unusual cause of an injury" is the story of Alison Webster, a St John volunteer for more than 20 years.

Alison tells the tale of an unfortunate person who was hit by a giraffe's head.

Alison said: "It happened during a performance of the York Mystery Plays, when I received a radio message from another volunteer. Not believing my ears, I rushed to the scene to find that actors wearing stage prop heads of various animals were performing a scene from the story of Noah's Ark.

"The giraffe's head costume had proved unwieldy and had toppled over, injuring an unfortunate member of the cast."

The heavy head could have caused a very serious injury, but luckily on this occasion the casualty received only slight injuries and quickly saw the funnier side.

On a more serious note Alison said: "The St John Ambulance goal is to ensure that at least one member of every family becomes first aid trained. Injuries are not funny and can happen in the most unlikeliest of circumstances."

If you would like to join in the fundraising activity and you have some fun and wacky ways in which you could raise money or you would like to tell your story of how St John Ambulance has helped you, email emma.harrison@ycp.co.uk or phone the Evening Press newsroom on 01904 653051 ext 314.

Cheques for the appeal should be made payable to St John Ambulance Appeal, c/o David Sutton, St John Ambulance, Lumley Close, Thirsk Industrial Park, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3TD, or go into any high street bank and pay into account number 60382078 , sort code 20-82-94. Or call into the Evening Press, 76/86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, with your donations.

Updated: 11:13 Friday, March 08, 2002