A man has been arrested after an alleged assault against firefighters who were giving emergency treatment to an injured man.

The crew, from Kilmarnock, were returning from a call when they saw a man unconscious on the road in Hurlford, Ayrshire. They began giving first aid to the man, who had a severe head wound, but another man at the scene became abusive. He then allegedly assaulted three firefighters, one of whom had to be taken to Crosshouse Hospital for treatment to a head injury.

Charlie McGrattan, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue's area manager, said: "Once again professional firefighters, whose only intention was to give assistance to someone in need of medical help, have been subjected to a vicious assault.

"We will not tolerate this behaviour towards its personnel and will strive to ensure that the full force of the law is brought to bear on the individual responsible for this unprovoked attack."

The alleged incident, which happened at around 9pm on Saturday, is the latest in a soaring number of attacks against firefighters.

In December, the annual report by Jeff Ord, HM Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services for Scotland, showed a 43% increase in attacks in one year.

The Strathclyde brigade suffered the brunt of the abuse, with its staff subjected to 166 of the 324 incidents recorded in 2005/06.

The rise came despite the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005, which made it a criminal offence to "assault, obstruct or hinder" an emergency worker in an emergency situation.

It covers fire, police, paramedics, doctors and nurses and has a maximum penalty of nine months' imprisonment, a £5000 fine or both.

Roddy Robertson, Scottish chair of the Fire Brigades Union, said: "It is sad that these things do appear to be on the increase. No matter the efforts we put in it doesn't appear to be having an impact."