THE 999 service – the oldest emergency call service in the world – is 80 years old today.

It was launched in London on June 30, 1937 after a fire at a doctor’s surgery.

A committee proposed there should be a standard easy-to-remember nationwide number, with 707 – corresponding to the letters SOS on the telephone dial – and 333 both considered before 999 was chosen.

BT advisors now answer around 560,000 calls a week in the UK – including about 47,000 in the West Midlands.

Of all calls connected by BT to the various emergency services, 49 per cent go to police - 49 per cent, 47 per cent to ambulance, four percent to the fire and rescue service and less than one per cent to the coastguard and cave and mountain rescue services.

To mark the anniversary, BT has today revealed some of the most unusual – and plain bizarre – calls its 999 handlers have ever taken.

1. Number crunching

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “I’m sorry to call 999 but I was looking for 101 but I don’t know the number.”

2. High and dry

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Young caller: “Mountain Rescue please.”

Advisor: “Where are you?”

Young caller: “I’m on the top bunk and I can’t get down.”

3. Wedding day drama

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “I need the police please it is my daughter's wedding day and her dress doesn't fit anymore. I need the police to come and help me get her in it.”

4. Takeaway trauma

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: "I need the police, I ordered a takeaway that cost me £30 and they took it to number six, when I live at number seven."

5. IT support

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “My laptop password won't work, I need you to reset it for me."

Advisor: “That’s not something we can help with.”

Caller: “Can you call my service provider and get them to ring me back?”

6. Pyjama panic

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “I need an ambulance, my husband has lost his pyjamas and he cannot breathe without them.”

7. Rabbit on the loose

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “Well it's quite urgent my rabbit has escaped, I need help."

8. Snow joke

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “Can I get the Police, someone has stolen my snowman from my garden, can you come quickly?”

9. Hairy situation

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “I need to cancel my hairdressers’ appointment, it’s an emergency and I can’t get through to the salon.”

10. Bird-brained

Advisor: “Do you need fire, police or ambulance?"

Caller: “There’s a seagull with a broken arm.”