New ambulance for obese people in Essex

A specially modified ambulance will now be transporting patients weighing up to 50 stone around the county.

The St John Ambulance's spent £50,000 on the bariatric vehicle after increasing demand, with 26% of the country's population now classed as clinically overweight.

The ambulance looks exactly like a regular one, but is much stronger and has special equipment onboard to help look after larger patients with dignity and respect - the crew's also fully trained to use it.

Jennifer Keddy's from St John Ambulance and has been telling Heart "The vehicle can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, if needed".

"If people need to get to a hospital, respite care or even an appointment, they should be able to do so in comfort and with the same about of dignity and respect as everybody else".