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AN ambulance driver carried on taking patients on emergency calls despite being banned for drink driving.

Mark Smith, 44, hid his conviction from bosses and continued working for more than a month.

Smith, from Tangmere Avenue, Heywood, near Rochdale, worked as an ambulance medical technician in Manchester city centre.

He was eventually caught when police alerted health chiefs.

He has now been sacked from his job with the North West Ambulance Service.

Police officers stopped Smith as he was driving a BMW in Middleton, Rochdale, in November.

He was off duty at the time. He was given a 16-month ban on December 7 but carried on working as if it had never happened.

His bosses at the North West Ambulance Service eventually found out earlier this month and called him to a disciplinary hearing. A spokesman for NWAS said: "The member of staff concerned failed to notify the trust of the conviction.

"As soon as the trust was informed, appropriate action was taken and the individual was suspended from duties.

"The individual was dismissed by the trust following a disciplinary hearing." The court heard Smith had 70mm of alcohol in 100ml of breath when he was tested by police in Middleton. The limit is 35.

He was also offered the chance of reducing his ban by four months if he completed a rehabilitation course. It is understood NWAS learned of Smith's conviction after being notified formally by police.

NWAS does not have a policy of automatically firing employees who are banned from driving but considers each case on an individual basis.

Ambulance technicians help paramedics to assess and care for patients at the scene of an emergency and on the way to hospital.

They usually have about 14 weeks of advanced driving and medical training.

Smith declined to comment when he was approached at his home.