TWO in three ambulance workers fear being attacked while on the job during the festive season, a GMB survey revealed today.

More than 40 per cent feared being physically attacked and more than half are worried about verbal abuse.

Three in four respondents said they have suffered a negative impact on their mental health during the past year.

The GMB surveyed more than 1,100 workers from ambulance trusts across Britain.

It said that it was publicising its findings on the last Friday before Christmas, which the union dubbed “Black Eye Friday,” believing it was the most popular night for workplace Christmas parties, and one of the busiest of the year for ambulance and hospital workers.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) paramedic Simon Day said: “This Friday night will be wild.

“People out celebrating, drinking, dancing, but unfortunately it’s a night when normally sensible people do very silly things.

“Ultimately it will be left to us to pick up the pieces — it will be a gruelling, relentless struggle for ambulance workers right across the UK.

“Morale is already at a low ebb due to rocketing workloads and staffing issues — it’s no wonder so many of us feel like we’re about to burn out.

“Our message is have fun, celebrate, but please think of us ambulance workers before you do anything stupid.”

WMAS head of security and safety Dan Knight said that the trust had a zero-tolerance policy towards people who abused staff but has continued to see a rise in abusive incidents.

He added: “It is never appropriate for staff to be abused verbally or physically; our crews have the right to work without fear of violence or intimidation while trying to help patients.”