The Kitten is the rather more upmarket four-wheeled version of the three-wheeled Reliant Robin, familiar as the mode of transport of TV wheeler-dealer Del Boy Trotter.

The "Kitten 999" is the brainchild of Keith Pillinger who runs the Bristol Paramedic Ambulance Service.

Look out!

He took a 22-year-old chassis and, after spending thousands of pounds and man hours, converted it into a fully registered, working ambulance. It has all the regulation kit inside the vehicle - almost.

"It's everything you would expect of a normal ambulance, except that it's a lot smaller," says Keith.

"For instance, we have a stretcher - every ambulance has a stretcher - except that this one is 39 inches long. We even carry entonox gas which is given to pregnant women - except this gas would be for a very small woman."

The Kitten is clearly too small to be sent out on a real emergency in the city of Bristol.

All mod cons

Instead, Keith is going to tour local schools to show children how to avoid accidents. Initial reaction is encouraging.

One child who saw the vehicle said: "It's great. It's a lot smaller and it won't scare children because it's like a real car."

Keith Pillinger is also writing stories, featuring the baby ambulance, to go with his health and safety sessions.