AMBULANCE crews in the North-East dealt with more than 2,500 calls between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The North-East Ambulance Service control room, which covers Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham, received 548 calls between noon and midnight on Wednesday, and 913 calls from midnight until noon yesterday.

The majority of calls were for falls, assaults, drink and drug incidents, breathing difficulties and chest pain.

In the same period a year ago, the service received 1,362 calls.

Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) received 444 calls from midnight to midnight on New Year's Eve.

From 12.01am yesterday to 4.30pm, there were 562 calls.

A year ago, the service dealt with 1,046 calls for New Year.

Paul Liversidge, North-East director of accident and emergency services, said demand had increased over the New Year, and praised staff for coping so well.

He said: "The New Year period has again proved to be extremely busy.

"Combined with the bad weather conditions, this puts immense pressure on our staff, but they have all worked extremely hard."

A Tenyas spokeswoman said: "It has been quite sporadic, but busy."