Callouts to St John Ambulance have shot up - with hundreds more calls compared to last year.

Volunteer workers at St John Ambulance in Kent saw callouts soar by 50 per cent in December 2008, compared to the same month the year before.

The service was relied upon to provide additional support to the regular ambulance service last month, as it was overwhelmed with the cold weather affecting roads and an upsurge in germs and flu.

December saw the various divisions of St John Ambulance Kent cover 90 shifts, clocking up a staggering 900 hours of volunteering.

At the same time in 2007 the service only completed 600 hours.

In all more than 9,860 miles were travelled by ambulances and volunteers, with 1,139 of these miles being driven on New Year's Eve alone.

December 31 saw seven ambulances deployed across the county and more than 80 hours were logged throughout the course of the evening, with 54 calls received and attended.

The icy roads which caused eight accidents in Thanet on Wednesday meant St John Ambulance were called upon again.

Two ambulances were deployed across the town and attended seven incidents within a half hour period, including one fatality.

Operations Manager for St John Ambulance Kent, Steve Walker, said: "2009 has got off to a very busy start for all our members.

"Throughout December the team worked without question and dedicated large amounts of time to supporting the local ambulance service. It looks as if January could be busier than ever and all of us at St John Ambulance are proud of the service that we are able to offer to the Kent community."

Paul Woodman, Kent's deputy operations manager, said: "Without the efforts of volunteers people would suffer.

"These people give up their time for others and it is so rewarding to see them using the skills they have been taught out in the community."

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Sue Skelton, assistant director of operations for South East Coast Ambulance Service, said: "We put a number of measures in place to manage the high levels of demand and ensure patients continued to receive the highest possible standards of care, including working closely with St John Ambulance.

"We are very grateful for St John Ambulance’s support which helped enable us to continue providing a safe and responsive service for patients."