Police have described a number of 999 hoax calls as ’disgusting’ and ’shameful’.

A police spokesman says that the bogus calls to the emergency control room has led to staff being delayed answering both medical and police emergencies.

In a post on the force’s media page it is said paramedics and police ’have been delayed getting to serious jobs because the dispatchers are tied up on a large number of hoax calls.’

The spokesman added:’Not sure the hoaxers would find it that amusing if they actually needed us but we couldn’t get there in time as the lines were tied up with fake 999 calls.

Police are now calling on those responsible for last night’s spate of calls to ’wise up’