THEY were desperately trying to reach a two-year-old boy in need of treatment – but road bollards barred the paramedics’ way.

Little Harry Rudge had suffered a suspected allergic reaction – but there was no way through for the ambulance.

Instead the paramedic crew had to find an alternative route, which added ten minutes to their journey.

And it was the FOURTH time in four years that paramedics had found their route blocked in the same road.

Luckily Harry recovered following the incident but now his furious mum Kerry is demanding the bollards are removed permanently.

The road is reserved as a bus route, which can also be used by emergency service vehicles, and links Botley Road to Yew Tree Drive.

But the mother-of-two, of Suffolk Drive, Whiteley, said the ambulance had to divert around Park Gate because they did not have a device to automatically lower the bollards blocking the route.

The bollards have now been left in their lowered state while this latest incident is investigated – but Mrs Rudge wants them to stay down permanently.

She said: “The paramedics were fuming and said they couldn’t believe the road is restricted that way.”

A survey is currently being conducted on whether residents support a six-month trial opening of the bus route but Mrs Rudge, 34, is calling on Fareham Borough Council to keep it open long term.

“Ten minutes in an emergency could easily be a matter of life or death,” she said.

Fareham Borough Council leader Sean Woodward said the incident would be investigated with South Central Ambulance S e r v i c e (SCAS).

But he q u e s - t i o n e d why the sat e l l i t e navigation system on board the ambulance had led to the road – and why the crew were unable to lower the bollards.

The council is now considering putting a number at the site so the bollards can be lowered in an emergency.

Cllr Woodward said that to remove the barriers permanently would need planning permission.

A SCAS spokesman said all local ambulance crews have devices to lower the bollards.

But he said pressure on the service that day meant there were no local crews available so the nearest vehicle was sent and that crew did not have the device or the emergency number to lower them.

He said due to changes in the way SCAS operates it would look at the practicalities of giving all crews the emergency number.