REDDITCH ambulance service has a new recruit in the form of Conservative prospective Parliamentary candidate Karen Lumley, who will spend a 12-hour shift on call.

Ms Lumley is concerned about the low level of pay that paramedics receive compared to other emergency service workers.

The maximum a paramedic can earn is below £18,000 a year and to receive a full pension, they are not able to retire before the age of 65.

By comparison police workers can retire on full pension at 50 or 55.

After speaking to the chief executive and director of operations at the county ambulance headquarters, Ms Lumley decided to experience the work of Redditch paramedics first-hand.

She will work a standard 12-hour shift with only a 20-minute break on Thursday, September 7.

Mrs Lumley said: "I am apprehensive about the experience but I am pleased to have the opportunity to do it.

"All the emergency services need to be treated equally and that is what I will be stressing to the shadow health minister Dr Fox."