A man has been charged after an ambulance was taken from outside Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Marshall Leese, 31, of Hanley has been charged with kidnap, theft of a motor vehicle, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

Staffordshire Police were called to a report of a man getting into an ambulance and driving off while a paramedic, a patient and another individual were in the back of the vehicle at about 8.15pm on Wednesday (25 March).

No one from inside the ambulance was injured as a result of the incident.

Mr Leese is due to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre today (Friday 27 March).