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An irate woman called emergency services to moan her ice cream did not have enough chocolate sprinkles.

West Midlands Police’s Force Contact team gave a suitably icy response when operators received the time-wasting request.

The force tweeted: “999 call from adult female who was reporting an ice cream vendor for not putting enough chocolate sprinkles on her cone... #unbelievable”

Chief Superintendent Jim Andronov, head of the force’s Contact Centre, said: “Typically West Midlands Police receive over 1,500 calls a day to the 999 number and our operatives have to deal with each one accordingly.

“Of these, some 10 to 20 per cent are not police matters and around 50 per cent are non-emergency calls where contact is appropriate via the 101 number.

“As well as the bizarre calls police also receive deliberate hoax calls which take up vital time. "

This was the latest in a string of crank calls to 999 services in the region.

(Image: PA)

Cops last year released a recording of a man who dialled police to complain about a prostitute’s looks after meeting her outside a hotel.

The force said they were contacted by the caller who said he “wished to report her for breaching the Sale of Goods Act”.

Another caller sought help from emergency operators after forgetting her Facebook password, while a man dialled 999 to ask how to dial the 101 non-emergency number.

Chief Supt Andronov added: “It’s astonishing listening to them but they hide a serious truth.

"Each call often takes minutes to deal with as staff have to clarify the situation - it might not sound like much but, if someone is trying to get through to report a genuine life or death emergency, then a minute is a very long time to wait.

“I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only, for guidance this is defined as: a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

“We do not want to discourage people from contacting the police so for any other reason call 101."