Hereford and Worcester firefighters were called out four times to help move severely overweight people last year.

In one case the fire crew spent more than four hours at the scene. on the other three call-outs they were there more than half an hour.

Crews often need lifting equipment and special slings to transport obese people, and sometimes have to remove windows, walls and banisters.

In most cases only one fire engine or vehicle is needed.

The total of four incidents is an increase of one from the year before, and the union representing ambulance staff says the problem is getting worse.

Home Office figures for 2018-19 show that Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue attended four callouts for what are termed 'bariatric assistance' – helping ambulance staff to move obese people.

Freedom of Information requests to some fire and rescue services have shown the average cost to them of a callout is £400.

For some non-emergency cases, services have been able to recover costs since 2004 legislation.

Across England, crews recorded more than 1,200 incidents last year, almost triple the 429 in 2012-13.

Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said:“Society’s main concern must be that crews engaged hauling the morbidly obese from their houses are unavailable to fulfil their principal duty of hauling people from burning buildings."

"Society's main concern must be that crews engaged hauling the morbidly obese from their houses are unavailable to fulfil their principal duty of hauling people from burning buildings.

"As the already fat get even fatter expect an even larger number next year.

"If one death should occur as a result it would be a calamity and rightly see the Government disgraced."

Colm Porter, Unison's national ambulance officer, said: "Going beyond the safe working load for specialist equipment creates dangers for both crews and patients.

"Staff have to assess each situation to decide whether they need assistance from other emergency services.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: "Tackling obesity is a priority for this government, and we are committed to halving childhood obesity rates by 2030.

"Robust government action has decreased the sugar content in soft drinks by almost a third and we’ve invested millions promoting physical activity in schools."