A special ambulance will be put on the streets to tackle the large numbers of people injured after drinking too much.

The scheme in Camden follows a rise in alcohol-related injuries in the borough which led to nearly 3,600 callouts last year - up 16 per cent up on the previous 12 months.

As well as providing swift assistance for injured drinkers, the new service is intended to ensure other ambulances remain available to deal with non-alcohol related calls and ease pressure on A&E departments.

Beginning later this year, it will operate around Camden Town from 9pm to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, the busiest times for the ambulance service in the borough.

The vehicle will be staffed by a paramedic and two emergency medical technicians who will treat patients at the scene, although those needing further care will be taken to hospital.

James King, Camden's executive member for community safety, said: "Most residents enjoy alcohol responsibly but there is a minority who harm themselves and others by abusing alcohol. This innovative project aims to reduce the harm caused by alcohol and help those who have alcohol misuse problems to seek treatment."

Kevin Brown, operations manager at the London Ambulance Service, said: "People with minor injuries or illness caused by too much alcohol do not always need to go to hospital. The booze bus will help us to assess and treat these patients without necessarily having to clog up the local A&E department.

"More importantly, this dedicated service will free up other ambulances so they are available for patients who have a life-threatening emergency and really need our help."

Camden accounts for nearly six per cent of the service's alcohol-related callouts and has the highest rate of alcohol-specific hospital admissions for men in London and the second highest for women.

The ambulance, which will initially operate for six months, will be funded by the Camden Community Safety Partnership, made up of the council, the police, Camden primary care trust and other local agencies.

Paul Fox, assistant director of public health at the trust, said: "We are keen to prevent alcohol misuse as well as reducing the harm associated with it.

"The service will not only treat those with minor injuries or alcohol-related illness, but also offer guidance on how to prevent the situation recurring. Staff will direct individuals to appropriate primary care or specialist alcohol treatment services."

Camden says the borough has 45,000 hazardous or harmful drinkers, equal to 22.83 per cent of the population. It also has 11,000 "dependent" drinkers, comprising 5.83 per cent of GPregistered patients aged 15 to 74, and 30,000 people classed as binge drinkers.