AN URGENT appeal has been issued against mindless yobs in a bid to stop them throwing objects at emergency vehicles.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has seen three incidents this month where yobs have thrown stones at ambulances causing injury to on-call paramedics and shattering windows.

On March 10, an ambulance had to be taken off the road in Stockport after a bottle was thrown while it was en route to an emergency.

The side window of the vehicle had been shattered and covered the interior with broken glass but no-one was hurt.

That ambulance then had to come off the toad and a second vehicle was then sent on the call.

Just a fortnight later a group of yobs had thrown stones at an ambulance carrying a sick child in West Derby, Liverpool. During the incident, a stone went through an open window and hit a technician on the head while he was driving on blue lights.

He continued to the hospital and was treated for a minor graze before being sent home - cutting his shift short.

On March 27 another ambulance was targeted by stones but this time in Preston. The ambulance was on they way to a patient in a life-threatening condition.

Although the damage caused was just a chip to a windscreen, the ambulance service is now calling to put an end to this 'dangerous trend.'

Director of operations, Ged Blezard said: “I was absolutely lost for words when I heard of these incidents, particularly the case in Liverpool.

"Had this member of staff been hit harder or in the eye, we could have been dealing with a serious incident and possibly even the death of him, his colleague or the young child we were treating.

“I would like to ask those throwing the stones at ambulances – how can you be sure that ambulance isn’t travelling to save the life of someone you care about?

"How do you know that your mum, dad, grandparent or sibling isn’t in a life threatening situation and waiting desperately for that ambulance to arrive?

"You are delaying critical help to our patients, you are risking the lives of our staff and our patients.

"If the stone throwing results in serious injury or at worse, a death, you could find yourself in serious trouble and facing a lengthy prison sentence.”

Last year NWAS launched a campaign to highlight the growing problem of violence and aggression towards ambulance staff.

More than 730 cases of physical or verbal assaults have been reported by NWAS staff in the last 12 months.

Ged added: “The safety of our staff and patients is always our priority.

"When a patient is ill and being treated in the back of an ambulance, the prospect of missiles coming in through the window should not be something they have to worry about.

"We will always work with the police to push for the full extent of the law to be applied to those who think it is amusing to do this.

“We urgently appeal to these people – stop now before you really hurt someone. Think about who may be in that ambulance or who that ambulance is going to.”