While most of us will spend tomorrow in the company of our nearest and dearest, tucking into turkey and exchanging gifts, spare a thought for the dedicated professionals who are giving up their Christmas Day to support their community.

As we report today, this includes the hard-working and selfless health professionals who will spend the big day working hard in our hospitals, or coming to the rescue of anyone unfortunate enough to fall ill or suffer an injury.

Christmas Day may be a holiday but it is also a very busy time for the emergency services.

Our doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers - including volunteers such as community responders - do a tremendous job, out of public view, in often difficult circumstances.

The fact they are hard at work on Christmas Day means we can all feel safer, knowing that our health, and that of our families and friends, is in the best possible hands.

We wish them, and all their colleagues in the other emergency services, a very merry Christmas - when they eventually get the time to celebrate.