HUNDREDS of people attended a recruitment open day in a bid to play their part in helping saving people’s lives in Hampshire.

More than 400 people flocked to Otterbourne to take part in the initiative run by South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS).

The event comes after the ambulance service announced it is struggling to fill almost 170 vacancies after being hit by a national shortage of NHS staff.

As previously reported, managers have had to call on agency staff and private providers as posts became vacant, often a result of people retiring, being promoted or leaving for new jobs.

Vacancies for clinicians, 999 call handlers and ambulance care assistants were among those advertised at the recruitment day held at Southern House.

People were given the chance to watch live demonstrations, view service vehicles and speak to SCAS staff.

Philippa Davies, 25, travelled from Andover and said she hopes to become a call handler.

“This open day has been very useful. I am even more convinced I want to work here,”she said.

SCAS staff member Andy Gordon, 47, from Eastleigh, joined the service three years ago after he attended a recruitment open day. “I have been in the NHS since. My job satisfaction was stratospheric. I love the people I work with.”