CASUALTY doctors have made a plea for families to be safety conscious on Christmas Day - after revealing a list of bizarre injuries they treated during the festive period last year.

Burns from turkey fat splashes, singed eyebrows from setting the pudding on fire and collapsing through overeating are just some of the reasons accident and emergency medics were called into action in 2005.

Casualty nurse Sister Barbara Fogg said: "People just need to use common sense, like they would for the rest of the year.

"If they don't drink or overindulge normally, then they should be careful at Christmas.

"People should also make sure they have plenty of paracetamol and other medication they might need in the house and to remain vigilant with young children and be careful with toys, especially those with small pieces."

Other examples of injuries last year included: l Eye injuries from Christmas tree branches and champagne corks.

l Choking on coins hidden in Christmas puddings.

l Parents falling from bikes, or other toys, while showing their little ones how to use them.

l Elderly people dropping into their puddings because they've eaten too much.

The hospital and the ambulance service are also urging people to only use the emergency services in a real emergency, such as a suspected heart attack, chest pain, unconsciousness, heavy blood loss, a serious accident, a broken bone, severe breathing difficulties or head injuries.

Delwyn Wray, North-west ambulance service area director for Greater Manchester, said: "Christmas is our busiest time of the year. We're fully prepared for the rise in demand over the holidays and will be working with St John Ambulance, who always support us in our busiest times.

"We're encouraging people to think before calling 999 over Christmas for serious or potentially life-threatening incidents and to consider alternatives, such as NHS Direct for non life-threatening incidents." NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 4647.