A cycling paramedic service is to be extended after proving to be a runaway success since its launch.

Since May 2001 the service has dealt with around 2,000 emergencies in the congested centre of York.

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

And from September 1 the service coverage is being increased from eight-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week to 12-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

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 on fitness, the highway code, roadside repairs and safety.

And yesterday they tackled a special obstacle course 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."