DISCUSSIONS over a planned strike during the Grand Depart by Yorkshire Ambulance workers are ongoing, the service has said.

Members of Unite the union within the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), announced strike action would take place this weekend over a working conditions disagreement, despite health chiefs warning

YAS yesterday announced more staff and vehicles would be on the road, more paramedics on motorbikes, additional air ambulance support, and Community Medical Units in key locations around the region.

Ian Walton, Associate Director for Resilience and Special Services at YAS, said staff were "fully committed" to providing "a safe and secure event", and was working with Tour organisers to do so.

He said: "Yorkshire Ambulance Service has robust contingency plans in place to provide responsive and effective care over the Grand Départ weekend. Patient safety remains the Trust’s highest priority.

“We’d like to reassure everyone that we have a comprehensive plan in place and we continue to work closely with our partners to ensure we are prepared before, during and after the event. We are committed to minimising the level of disruption to our service and have taken comprehensive steps to ensure we maintain operational cover and sustain effective and safe services for patients calling upon us.”

A Unite spokesman said: "Unite offered to hold talks with the YAS management on this dispute the day we issued the notice for strike action last Friday. The management has yet to respond to this offer of talks on the important issues of patient safety and staff welfare."

Advice from the YAS for those attending the event includes:

- Make sure you have appropriate clothing, no matter what the weather. Bring sun cream, a hat, water and suitable footwear.

- Make sure you’re aware of where you can get medical care at spectator hubs.

- Pack your medication

- Only phone 999 in life-threatening situations. NHS 111 should be phoned for non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses.