Bradford's ambulance staff are facing an increasing fear of being attacked at work as assaults on paramedics continue to rise across the area.

Figures released by the Department of Health show 43 paramedics working for the newly reconfigured Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust were physically assaulted while at work in 2006/7.

In 2005/6, 29 West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service ambulance staff were attacked - down from 49 in 2004/5. The ambulance trust was reconfigured to become the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in 2006/7.

Nationally, the number of assaults on ambulance staff fell from 1,104 in 2005/6 to 1,006 in 2006/7.

In November, union leaders called for paramedics to be provided with stab-proof vests. Health minister Ben Bradshaw said it was up to individual trusts whether stab vests were deemed necessary.

But he claimed the Depart-ment of Health has received no requests for funding for the body armour. Currently only London, Essex and Dorset issue staff with the protective clothing.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "The government takes the safety of ambulance staff extremely seriously. Any violence against NHS staff is unacceptable."