As World Cup fever increases, Yorkshire Ambulance Service chiefs have urged fans in Bradford to drink responsibly during the tournament.

With more people than normal expected to be socialising either at home or in pubs during the competition, managers at the service are worried staff could be delayed in dealing with victims suffering life-threatening conditions if they are overrun by alcohol-related incidents.

With heavy drinking often leading to an increase in assaults, including those against ambulance staff, and domestic violence incidents, the service is calling on people to be mindful about the dangers of drinking too much.

“We are not trying to stop people enjoying themselves, but unfortunately ambulance clinicians have to pick up the pieces following alcohol-fuelled incidents,” said Tasnim Ali, assistant director of A&E operations for the Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees area.

“Our valuable life-saving resources are often caught up responding to these incidents which could have been avoided.

“There is a link between major sporting occasions and heavy drinking which, in turn, results in an increase in alcohol-related calls to the ambulance service.

“It’s easy to forget how much alcohol you have consumed when you are enjoying yourself and people don’t always consider the consequences of their actions.

“While we are dealing with alcohol-related incidents, we could be delayed in treating someone with a more serious or life-threatening condition.

“We want to make sure that the World Cup 2010 is one people will remember for all the right reasons and that our crews are there for the people who really need us.”

The service will be deploying additional resources during the World Cup.