Paramedics are preparing for thousands of emergency calls over the long Easter weekend.

The South East Coast Ambulance service (SECAmb) is asking people to think about the response they need, before calling 999.

Where possible, people are being asked to visit walk-in centres or see a pharmacist instead.

Last Easter, the ambulance service received 10,000 emergency calls and sent crews to 7,700 of them.

Meanwhile, the non-emergency 111 service took 22,000 calls across the four days.

SECAmb executive director of operations, Joe Garcia, said: "The four-day Easter weekend is always a busy time for ambulance services so people can really help us by preparing ahead of the weekend.

"We’ll be prioritising our response to those in the greatest need and our staff and volunteers will be working hard to get people the help they need as quickly as possible.

"Those not facing a serious or life-threatening situation may have to wait longer or seek alternatives to an ambulance response and we request their understanding.

"People can really help us by remembering to make use of alternatives to 999 including calling NHS 111, where our staff will also be working hard to provide people with the assistance they need.

"In advance of the weekend I’d like to thank all our staff and volunteers who I know will be showing their usual professionalism and commitment throughout the weekend."

People are being told to call 999 if they show signs of a heart attack, experience sudden and unexplained shortness or breath, suffer heavy bleeding, fall unconscious or have "traumatic" back, spine or neck pain.