FALLING staff numbers in the Lancashire Ambulance Service are putting lives at risk, union representatives said today.

And it has emerged that some East Lancashire stations have been effectively closed for up to 12 hours at a time as no drivers were available for shifts.

A rota obtained by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph reveals that two shifts were without cover last weekend between 8am and 8pm. It is not clear whether cover was found.

A spokesman for the Association for Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP) said: "There has been a chronic shortage of personnel over the past 18 months or so. We have had occasions where stations have been unmanned because we have been down on vehicles.

"Large stations like Blackburn or Burnley have both been down on vehicles recently and when that happens vehicles from other stations have to cover, which causes problems for them.

"It's a very worrying situation and is putting lives at risk. Something needs to be done before we go past crisis point." Management today admitted that some shifts may not be covered on occasions.

Anthony Marsh, director of accident and emergency operations, said: "There is not a staffing problem in the service and they are all doing an excellent job.

"Around this time of year is very hard for staff because, like any organisation, a lot of people want annual leave and we try our best to give that. We are not able to cover every single shift and there will be occasions where that will happen but generally speaking our cover is very good."

Across the county there are some 340 staff in the ambulance service and 28 vehicles.

The APAP spokesman said on some occasions up to seven vehicles have been unable to go on the road at any one time due to the lack of staff, which is down to absence through sickness and early retirement.

A corporate report by the Lancashire Ambulance Service said sickness among staff was above budget and required some attention.

Despite this the service has an excellent record for turning out to emergency calls. The latest figures put the county among the best in the country after smashing government-set response-time targets.

Up to the end of March 2001 the service reached 77.3 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes - compared to a national target of 75 per cent. Only two other ambulance services met that target. The service also reached 98.2 per cent of life-threatening calls and other calls within 19 minutes. The national target is 95 per cent.

But the union said this was adding to the problems among staff.

The spokesman said: "The staff are completely committed to do the job. They have given their everything to make sure we get high placings in the league tables but some drivers are working eight, nine, ten hours without a break.

"Crews cannot operate safely like that.

"We have had several meetings with the management but they have not taken our suggestions on board."

An ambulance man, who did not want to be named, said: "We have been doing 12-hour shifts on some days without so much as a drink of water.

"Staff are putting themselves out but reaching breaking point. Blackburn station should have two manned vehicles on its night shift but last Saturday there was just one member of staff there.

"It was covered by the other stations but that puts a strain on them. It was effectively unmanned and closed for the first time in its history. It could be the same tonight."

Mr Marsh said he had no knowledge of Blackburn being closed and added eight more recruits had recently started training.

Nigel Robinson, chief officer with Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Community Health Council, said it was a concern, and that pressures on staff could be enormous.