This Easter saw the ambulance service deal with a 7.7% increase in calls across the region compared to the same long weekend period last year.

Ambulance bosses praised staff for their commitment to patients, during a period when most people were enjoying the bank holidays.

In total, the East of England Ambulance Service received 11,080 emergency calls over the weekend, compared to 10,109 in the same period last year.

Of those, the service responded to 8,929 incidents between Good Friday and the end of Easter Monday; the figure for 2014 was 8,108.

Chief executive Anthony Marsh said: “Whilst so many people have been enjoying their Easter holidays, our staff and volunteers have been working hard to provide the best possible care to patients across the region.

“Bank holidays are always a busy period for the ambulance service, but we were well prepared and I’m proud of all our staff and volunteers who have been carrying out life-saving work for patients and the public in the region this Easter.”

In Norfolk, there were 1,722 calls, compared to 1,599 in 2014. Cambridge saw a 13.2% increase in calls, from 1,295 to 1,466, while calls in Suffolk increased by 1%, from 1,309 to 1,322.