DRIVERS who park on the roads are being urged to be more careful after an ambulance was blocked from reaching an 83-year-old woman in need of treatment.

Paramedics were unable to get to Maureen Rourke on Sunday night after she fell and injured her shoulder, because cars had double parked near her Wincham home.

As a result, the ambulance was forced to park around the corner, with paramedics ferrying equipment into the Partridge Close home – before wheeling Mrs Rourke out again in the cold.

Her daughter, Tracie Sewell, has since alerted neighbours to the fact, and says a fire or a more serious medical emergency could have dire consequences.

She said: “My mum had a fall and we thought she had dislocated her shoulder, so we called the ambulance and waited, watching out of the window.

“There was a knock on the door and it was the ambulance crew, saying they had had to park up the road because they couldn’t get past the parked cars.

“We have struggled to get our car out at times, and even when paramedics had knocked on doors to try and get cars moved they had no luck.”

Fortunately, Mrs Rourke is now recovering at home, but Tracie decided to tell neighbours about the issue.

She said: “It could affect any of us.

“I wasn’t accusing anyone of anything – I don’t know whose cars they were – but I mentioned that it is illegal to block emergency access.

“I wanted people to be aware of the problem, and to think that it could happen to anyone living on the street.

“It’s not just our estate, there are plenty of tight streets around and a lot of people have more than one car.

“My point is that you can’t and shouldn’t block emergency access.”

A recent incident in Wilmslow, pictured right, saw firefighters unable to reach a callout and forced to run to the emergency – wasting vital moments.

This prompted Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to put out a warning to residents.

Last month, the Department for Transport recommended that a ban on pavement parking should be enacted in England.

n What are your thoughts on issue of pavement parking? Email the editor, yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk