An ambulance boss is “delighted” by the volume of interest in a new student paramedic programme.

Since the launch of the East of England Ambulance Service Trust’s (EEAST) recruitment programme to train 400 student paramedics three weeks ago, more than 1,200 people have now applied.

Trust chief executive Dr Anthony Marsh said: “I’m delighted by the huge number of people, who come from all backgrounds and sections of our communities, who want to take up this fantastic opportunity to help people, often in their greatest hour of need.

“We know we need more staff so that we can improve the care that we provide to patients and this programme will take us a long way down that road. It will help us reach our goal of having a paramedic on every vehicle which will undoubtedly increase the quality of patient care.”

The training programme for a student paramedic to qualify takes two and half years to complete and EEAST will then offer the successful participants full-time paramedic contracts.