Hospictal chiefs had to turn away ambulances from its casualty department over Christmas because it was too busy.

Six ambulances arrived at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, at the same time on Boxing Day and staff at the casualty department were struggling to cope with the number of patients.

Broomfield spokesman Mark Purcell said: "Within an hour the whole situation had cleared, but it was controlled chaos for a short period of time.

"There was an ambulance build-up and there was a lot of pressure on the accident and emergency department."

Mr Purcell stressed the incident was not a case of a bed shortage as there were 30 spare in the hospital.

The hospital's intensive therapy unit (ITU), however, is full and staff are working on a contingency plan for the New Year.

Paul Fisher, service co-ordinator, said: "We have been running full for some days, but the ITU population of patients is a fluid one.

"When we are full the decision is made by the consultants as to where we go from there. Generally there is a lot of pressure on ITU beds."

He said there was a plan for the millennium period, but staff were not too worried about the big night: "We will respond as circumstances decree."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.