THE Greater Manchester Ambulance Service has launched an appeal to tell people who are still trying to apply for a job as a paramedic, that there are no places left.

Interest in the ambulance service is still enormously high as was proved by a recent recruitment drive - but many applicants are likely to be disappointed.

Applications have flooded in so quickly that GMAS has issued a statement announcing that all jobs have been filled, and budding paramedics will have to wait for the next round of vacancies.

The service was looking to recruit 30 new people this year - the first intake of 15 trainees will join in late May or early June and the second will follow in the Autumn.

As a result of the announcement, a staggering 2,300 people responded to the appeal and an eventual total of 1,300 application forms were returned.

GMAS's general manager for personnel, John Williams, said: "It is, by any standards, an unprecedented response and it goes to prove that there is still a great deal of interest in the work of the emergency services, which has been popularised over recent years by TV programmes such as 999 and Blues and Two's."

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