PEOPLE are being urged to play safely in the snow after the region’s ambulance service saw a number of sledging injuries over the weekend.

A spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) said although it was impossible to pinpoint exactly how many sledge-related 999 calls have been received it is understood from anecdotal evidence that there have been more than a dozen across the region this weekend.

While none were believed to be life threatening and many injuries were minor some children and adults sustained broken limbs or head injuries requiring further treatment at hospital.

She added that people would enjoy the snow far more if they did so safely and without the risk of ending up in hospital with an injury.

“People should ensure they are well wrapped up and that they wear padded clothes such as snow jackets and trousers and, if appropriate, safety gear so that even if they come off they do so without too much risk of injury. Even on a fast downhill run they should always feel in control while sledging. The fun really isn’t worth it if you wind up with a painful injury in A&E.”

Meanwhile ITV Anglia filmed EEAST for its Sunday night news bulletin focusing on how “heroic” crews are battling through the snow to get to patients.

And as Gary Sanderson, Communications Manager for the Trust, was being interviewed TV crews got a live taste of the unique challenges presented by the snow when a car slid into a barrier on James Way in Stevenage.

Fortunately the collision only resulted in minor injuries but it demonstrated the need for people to take extra care when driving in the snow and also showed how the weather affects workload for the emergency services.

Mr Sanderson said: “This was a really good opportunity to show the lengths our crews and managers go to so that people will get the help they need. Some of our staff have volunteered to come in on annual leave and that is just one example of how committed they are to patient care. It is thanks to the heroic efforts of them and our volunteers that we can provide a good service.”