BUSINESSES are rallying in support of their emergency service workers, after a video of an on-call ambulance being ticketed caused outrage earlier this week.

On-call paramedics were given a parking ticket after leaving their ambulance outside a marked bay at Kingsmead Square on Tuesday night, July 24.

Watch the video here.

The ticket was not followed through, but a number businesses have decided to do their bit to show appreciation for paramedics, police officers and firefighters.

Delamere Stores and The Fourways Cafe and Grill, The Crusty Cob Cafe in Wincham, Williamsons Bakery in Castle and Subway Lostock Gralam are among the businesses showing support.

Other businesses, such as The Codfather in Manchester Road, which offers 15 per cent off for all blue light card and NHS staff cardholders, have kept their longstanding emergency service offers intact.

Ex-police officers Lee and Suzanne Cartwright are the owners of Delamere Stores and The Fourways Cafe and Grill. They'll be offering free bottled water and 50 per cent off sandwiches to on-call emergency services staff.

Lee said: "The whole incident just wound us both up.

"We get a lot of emergency service staff anyway, and we though it would be a good opportunity to give them a break – with no risk of a ticket.

"Emergency services are stretched in a big way and it's a difficult time to be in uniform as it is."

The Crusty Cob Cafe, in Wincham since November, will be offering free hot or cold drinks to emergency workers, as well as queue jump where possible.

Owner Anna Kennerley said: "I just thought it was an awful situation.

"I am lucky enough not to have needed the ambulance service, but my best friend did many years ago and if it wasn't for them, she would be dead.

"The video was a wake-up call that we should do more for people in those sorts of roles – at the end of the day they are protecting and saving us."

Jane Mooney from Williamsons Bakery in Castle took inspiration and decided to extend her free water and 20 per cent off offer to all NHS staff.

"When Lee [at Delamere Stores] did that it was just a smash of inspiration – an excellent idea.

"We always try to serve people in uniform as a priority because their time is limited. THey do a great job for us all, and then they hand us over to someone in the NHS and they are pretty stretched as well.

"We are killing two birds with one stone on that front."

Subway in Lostock Gralam is another company offering a hand to paramedics, in the form of a free Signature Wrap.

Graeme Keast, franchisee at the Lostock branch, said: "We’ve just launched new Signature Wraps and are giving these away to the paramedics with no other purchase needed.

"We’re also doing free drinks for the summer for all emergency services on duty.

"Something we’ve always done all year aswell is give 999 services buy one get one free on six-inch subs.

"The offers have gone down really well and it’s great to make a difference."

Do you know of any other initiatives for our emergency services in Northwich? Email northwich@guardiangrp.co.uk or call 01606 813621