THE new ambulance service said it has faced unprecedented levels of activity' in the year since it was formed.

The North West Ambulance Service said 999 calls had gone up by 6.6 per cent and it had faced severe pressure from the bad weather.

The service was formed from the merger of several ambulance trusts including the trust that mainly covered Warrington, Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

John Burnside, the chief executive of NWAS, said it had a new strategic vision and that is partly aimed at dealing with the increase in 999 calls.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service consistently failed to meet response time targets and scored a zero rating.

Mr Burnside said: Our vision aims to ensure that patients receive the most appropriate care, at the most appropriate time and in the most appropriate setting.

"This may be clinical advice over the telephone, taking the patient straight to hospital or treating patients in their home and referring them to alternative pathways of care.

"Whatever care package is provided it will be delivered by dedicated, highly trained staff."

NWAS has 4,470 staff and almost 1,000 emergency and non-emergency vehicles to cover an area of 5,400 square miles and seven million people.