A PIONEERING cycling paramedic service is to be extended after proving to be a runaway success since its launch - and could be a blueprint for the rest of the country.

Since May 2001, the service has dealt with about 2,000 emergencies, many of them life-threatening, in the congested centre of York.

Most patients have been reached inside two minutes and the quick response has left traditional ambulances free to deal with emergencies elsewhere in the city.

From the beginning of September, the service coverage is being increased from eight-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week to 12-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. The operational area is also being enlarged.

York-based Martin Dodd has been seconded to join Mark Inman as the second full-time pedalling paramedic while emergency medical technician Andy Church and paramedic Neil Roberts will cover on relief.

"This is what we have been working towards for the last two-and-a-half-years," said Mr Inman yesterday.

The Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service is giving the team six months to prove that the seven-day Life Cycle project is the way forward.

The new recruits, all keen cyclists, will have to complete 16 hours of specialised training - focusing especially on fitness, knowledge of the Highway Code, the ability to do roadside repairs and general safety.

Yesterday, they tackled a special obstacle course set up in a local school playground designed to give them improved levels of skill and balance.

"Just because you can ride a bike doesn't mean you can ride it as part of an emergency service," said Mr Inman.

"So we have put together some obstacles to give them an idea of how to negotiate things like steps and kerbs at speed."

His colleague, Martin Dodd - who recently completed a 450-mile bike ride from York to Land's End - said: "Life Cycle has proved itself as an excellent service to people in the centre of the city and I can't wait to become involved."

Once he joins the team he will be cycling up to 20 miles a day and often more while at work - he is hoping gym sessions and his work as a rugby referee will help keep him in tip-top condition