A WOMAN phoned 999 to complain that her kitchen was a mess and she needed help to tidy it up.

The case was among a list of inappropriate calls revealed by the North West Ambulance Service to highlight how lives can be put at risk over the bank-holiday weekend.

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Others examples included a man who called the emergency-service hotline because his toe nail had changed colour, and a woman who had a cotton bud stuck in her ear.

Calls to the service jumped by six per cent last August bank holiday — and handler Tony Newsham has urged people across East Lancashire to think carefully before they dial.

He said: “A bank holiday is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your family and friends. But for the ambulance service it is a holiday where we see a large increase in the number of 999 calls.

“They tend to be from people who do not know where to seek alternative medical care when their GP practice is closed, with conditions such as sore throats and aches and pains.

“These are calls that should not be made to an emergency number and we would like the public to help keep our services free for patients who are seriously ill with life-threatening conditions.

“People often think calling 999 will help them get seen quicker — but that is not the case.

“A well-stocked medicine cabinet, a visit to a pharmacist or a call to NHS 111 are often much better options for patients with conditions that are not serious.

“It is vital our services are kept free for the most urgent calls in order for us to prioritise patients with life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, cardiac arrests, stokes and breathing problems. If it is not an emergency, please think of how you can help yourself and others or, better still, avoid the injury or illness in the first place.”

Top tips from health experts to stay safe over the bank holiday include drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, avoiding long periods in direct sun exposure, treating sprains and strains with ice packs and paracetamol, and putting burns and scolds immediately under cold running water.