THOUSANDS of time- wasting 999 calls that are risking lives in emergencies will be highlighted in a radio campaign.

Calls have been made to 999 operators to report an electricity fault, ask for help after a car tyre puncture and to check bus times.

Of the 100,000 emergency calls received each year by Cleveland Police, more than one in ten are inappropriate.

In response, the Use It -Don't Abuse It advertising campaign, launched today on Century Radio, will use real recordings of non-emergency calls.

The worrying facts came to light after Pam Andrews-Mawer, chairwoman of Cleveland Police Authority's community safety panel, spent an evening in the force's communications centre.

She saw how many non- urgent calls were made on the emergency lines.

She said: "I really could not believe some of the calls that came through.

"People were ringing wanting to know the time of the last bus, where they could get a taxi or asking for help because they had locked themselves out.

"The campaign, which will use real-life examples from calls received by the police, is all about bringing home to the public that the 999 system is for genuine emergencies only.

"Anyone ringing with non-urgent inquiries could be stopping a real emergency getting through.

"It will also point out that people who deliberately misuse the system, for example by making a joke call, could find themselves being charged with a criminal offence."

Superintendent Gary Clarke said: "Unfortunately, the 999 number is so well known, people think it is the cure for anything remotely linked to the police. It is not.

"On far too many occasions, members of the public ring with innocuous and, frankly, time-wasting queries.

"Sadly, one day this could well result in a tragedy and someone with a genuine emergency will face delays in getting help.

"I would urge everybody to think before they dial."

For non-emergencies, people are asked to ring police on (01642) 326326