AN emergency 999 call was made to the ambulance service by a man wanting paramedics to refill his water bottle.

The caller requested West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedics visit his home to fetch him his cold medication and to also refill the water bottle.

It is one of a number of "unbelievable" bizarre and inappropriate calls received by the emergency call handlers which, the service warns, could potentially put other people's lives at risk.

Other time-wasting calls received recently include an emergency call from someone who had stubbed their toe and another from a person who had sore feet after wearing new shoes.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman urged people to use the 999 emergency number responsibly as it meant call handlers were not able to deal with people with life-threatening conditions

“Whilst these cases are almost unbelievable, it does highlight a very real issue that potentially puts the lives of other people at risk.

"If our call handlers, dispatchers and crews are tied up dealing with this sort of call, they are not there to deal with people who have genuinely life threatening conditions such as a stroke, chest pain, choking, serious blood loss or an unconscious patient.

"In some cases every second counts and the fact that we have to deal with such calls means ultimately, the lives of other people could be at risk.”

Anyone who needs medical help which is not life threatening should visit wmas.nhs.uk/Pages/Choose-Well.aspx to see who to contact or can call 111.