There has been a dramatic increase in the number of violent assaults against ambulance staff in Northern Ireland.

Seventy attacks were recorded last year, almost double the number in the previous 12 months.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service managers and trade union officials want the public to be more aware of the problem.

According to the service, the number of violent incidents has risen from 38 in 1999 to 70 in 2000.

'Impede the service'

These range from verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, physical assaults and damage to vehicles.

Kenny McMahon, director of operations with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, said: "This type of behaviour not only affects the staff who are already working under difficult conditions, but impede the service from delivering their normal high quality of patient care."

Lily Kerr of UNISON said that their members had "served this community throughout the past 30 years, without thought for their own health, safety and well being".

She said: "It is ironic that in this era of peace that ambulance staff are suffering some of the most vicious and unwarranted attacks from this same community."

The ambulance service and trade unions have also appealed to community leaders, politicians and church leaders to help them in preventing further attacks on staff.