A Black Country MP has told the Commons how she witnessed attacks on ambulance staff as they tried to help the victim of an assault.

Lynda Waltho (Lab Stour-bridge) said she saw unprovoked attacks by members of the public when she spent a night with crew from West Midlands Ambulance Service.

She was speaking in support of new laws making it an offence to obstruct the emergency services in their work.

Ms Waltho told the Commons: "The obstruction of emergency workers responding to emergencies is a heinous crime that at best is irritating and troublesome and at worst potentially life threatening.

"The consequent danger and damage to the person awaiting emergency assistance can be devastating."

She worked a night shift with an ambulance crew from Stourbridge station in order to learn more about the work of emergency services, she said.

The crew stopped to help a young man who had been assaulted, the MPs said.

" Both paramedics attempted to calm the situation and to assist both young men under attack."

She added: "However, while that was happening, two bystanders who had not previously been involved in the incident, attempted to prevent it by barring the way to the injured party and then hitting out at one of the paramedics as the injured man was lifted into the ambulance."

However, the drama did not stop there, she said.

As the ambulance began to leave the scene with the injured patient, two young men climbed the steps at the side of the driver's door and attempted to prevent it from leaving.

The Bill was also backed by Stafford MP David Kidney (Lab).