The Millennium Stadium will become a temporary hospital for the busiest nights of the festive season as the Welsh Ambulance Service takes over the medical treatment centre to cope with the influx of partygoers heading for the capital city.

During last year’s party weekend, December 19-20, the Welsh Ambulance Service dealt with 2976 emergency calls across Wales and once again this year a triage team will set up a temporary home at the Cardiff’s iconic stadium from 5pm today and on the evenings of Wednesday 23 December and New Year’s Eve to look after the city’s revellers.

The staff at the Millennium Stadium will look after minor injuries while the more serious are sent to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Welsh Ambulances Service NHS Trust’s emergency planning officer Alun Harris said: “I’d like to thank all the staff who will be working these busy shifts, and also express my gratitude to the Millennium Stadium for helping and allowing us the use of their medical treatment centre if it is required.”

“This is of course a very busy time for us and our simple request is for people to enjoy themselves but be sensible. We are not here to be misused by those who have gone totally over the top with their celebrations, we are here to help in emergency situations and we ask everyone to respect that and allow us to get on with our jobs.”