REVELLERS are being urged to drink responsibly tonight. Calls made to 999 are expected to increase as people celebrate Mad Friday.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is urgently reminding people to only call for an ambulance in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency.

Worryingly, calls to the Trust’s 999 Emergency Operations Centre rose by 33 per cent between 6pm and 6am on the last Mad Friday before Christmas last year.

Executive medical director Dr Julian Mark said that staff often had to look after people who had drunk excessively or had alcohol-fuelled injuries which could have been avoided had they responded appropriately.

“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,” he added.