A Rainham man - one of London’s longest serving paramedics - has been recognised for almost four decades of bluelight service at a special ceremony.

Recently retired Emergency Medical Technician Alan Stokes, from Rainham, joined the London Ambulance Service in 1972 and spent his 37 year career at West Ham Ambulance Station responding to emergency calls.

“I enjoyed the variety the job bought and no two days were ever the same,” he said.

“There was a lot of interesting jobs but the one that stands out the most is the first breach birth I attended.

“When you deliver a baby you expect the head to come out so it was a huge shock to me when the first thing to appear was the baby’s bottom.

“Luckily, both mother and baby were fine.”

He joined 11 other retirees, with a combined 405 years with the service between them as they were presented with commemorative ambulance bells and certificates by chairman Richard Hunt at the ceremony in Westminster earlier this month.

Chief executive Peter Bradley said: “All of the retirees can be very proud of the contribution they have made over the many years they have worked with us.

“Their commitment and dedication to helping the people of London deserves this recognition.”