AMBULANCE crews slammed young children who made a series of hoax 999 calls in Stevenage today. Three times crews were sent to the Tesco supermarket in the town centre after 999 calls said people had collapsed and on two other occasions, crews went to the

AMBULANCE crews slammed young children who made a series of hoax 999 calls in Stevenage today.

Three times crews were sent to the Tesco supermarket in the town centre after 999 calls said people had collapsed and on two other occasions, crews went to the seated area outside the old Littlewoods store, also in the town centre, after they received further 999 calls saying people had collapsed and needed emergency help.

The calls were eventually traced to the nearby public phone outside Costa Coffee.

"These hoax calls are diverting crews away from what could be real emergencies," said Beds and Herts Ambulance Service spokesman Gary Sanderson.

"Crews are very angry when they suddenly realise their time has been wasted by a hoax call.