CALLS have been made for an improvement in traffic flow in a Borders high street after reports an ambulance was held up.

It was claimed the emergency vehicle was unable to gain a clear passage on the road through Innerleithen as traffic queued behind a bus.

Innerleithen Community Council heard the gap was too narrow for the ambulance to get through because of the congestion around a built out bus stop.

And fears have been expressed that every second it was stopped could be the difference between life and death.

Community councillor Neil Andrew said: “The ambulance couldn’t move for about one and half minutes. It’s the second time it’s happened.

“I really hope nobody in this council or one of your relatives has the misfortune to be lying in an ambulance that can’t get to the hospital. The ambulance driver should have made a complaint about this.” The Scottish Ambulance Service revealed it has no reports of any holdups in Innerleithen.

Spokesman John Morton said: “I have checked with our operations team and there have been no reports of this kind from staff.” Mr Andrew called for the built-out bus stop to be moved back but no action was put forward by the community council.