Barnstaple ambulance in 'made love' story in Red Nose Day fun

Ambulance staff were in high spirits tonight after helping to raise money for Red Nose Day after one of their vehicles inadvertently became an internet comedy hit.

Last month the Journal ran a bizarre court story about a drunk man trying to "make love to an ambulance" in the town, which went viral on the internet with over 50,000 people viewing it on the paper's website thisisnorthdevon.co.uk.

The infamous ambulance with paramedics at Barnstaple Ambulance Station this evening
The infamous ambulance with paramedics at Barnstaple Ambulance Station this evening
The infamous ambulance with paramedics at Barnstaple Ambulance Station this evening
The infamous ambulance with paramedics at Barnstaple Ambulance Station this evening
The infamous ambulance with a Red Nose at Barnstaple Ambulance Station this evening
The infamous ambulance with paramedics at Barnstaple Ambulance Station this evening

This week yet another take on the same story has once again become an online sensation, with 3,000 people viewing a cheeky Jim'll Paint It picture which immortalises the scene in cartoon form.

And in the spirit of Red Nose Day, Ambulance staff from South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST), showed they had a sense of humour about the recent media attention and posed up with the now infamous Barnstaple ambulance.

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Journal editor Chloe Hubbard said: "The story certainly generated a lot of interest and it has to be said most people seemed to see the funny side. Although I'm not sure the man involved will be finding it that amusing, hopefully he'll take some comfort in the fact his misfortune has helped raise money for a good cause – we're donating £100 to comic relief."

Paramedics Darren Toms and Paul Down posed for these pictures and said it was nice to get the opportunity to show SWAST's human side.

"I think the public will see the funny side of this," said Darren. "It shows we're human and not just people in big vans that turn up when you're poorly and unwell.

"And showing we support Red Nose Day is a good thing. This was a great idea, I've certainly never heard of it being done before."

Cartoon depicts man making love to an ambulance in Barnstaple bus station