Over 1,100 apply for 120 paramedic jobs

Ambulance bosses said they were delighted with the response to their advert for people to become a frontline member of staff.

Recruitment advisor Louise Harris said: "This is a fantastic response.

"We thought it would be a popular role, but to get so much interest is tremendous as it means we will be able to ensure we have the highest quality of candidates.

"We have been pleasantly surprised by the wide range of people who have applied. They come from all sections of our area and have a wide range of backgrounds and communities which is really positive.

"Clearly with so many applications to go through we will be a little busy for a while, but will let candidates know as soon as possible.

"For those that are successful, it is a really good programme which is both challenging and rewarding.

"As a trust, we are committed to ensuring that we have a paramedic on every vehicle. We already have one of the highest rates of paramedics in the country but this programme will take us one step closer to that vision."

Assessments are due to start from the week beginning February 3, with WMAS looking to run four courses of 30 people per time over the coming months.

The news comes as the ambulance service announced it will bring back ambulances to four Shropshire market towns.

It was confirmed yesterday that a fully operational ambulance will once again be stationed in Bridgnorth, Craven Arms, Market Drayton and Oswestry from next month.

The decision follows the number of 999 calls in the county increasing by 5.5 per cent last year.

In 2012 the service received 37,518 emergency calls which rose to 39,574 in 2013 – a rise of 2,056.

Each town has been without an operational ambulance since 2012, when WMAS stationed all ambulances at two hubs in Shrewsbury and Telford as part of its controversial Make Ready scheme.

The changes saw the towns provided with advanced paramedics who responded to 999 calls from community ambulance stations in blue-light cars, with an ambulance only being deployed if required.

But the move to reinstate ambulances has been made possible by teaming up advanced paramedics with a paramedic from one of the hubs to create an ambulance crew.