BOLLARDS that delayed ambulance crews trying to reach a sick two-year-old boy have been lowered.

The bus route, at Yew Tree Drive in Whiteley, that they block is now open to other vehicles.

It comes after a medical drama in which a 999 crew was forced to divert because they were not able to lower the road block.

Long-term roadworks recently started at junction 9 of the M27 require the bus route to be open to manage traffic flow.

After this, a three-month temporary opening is set for later this year, following a consultation which found that the majority of people wanted it opened.

The issue of the bollards was highlighted last month when Harry Rudge, of Whiteley, suffered a suspected allergic reaction, but paramedics were forced to add precious minutes to their journey because the ambulance had been routed to the bus route by its satnav.

Unlike local crews, they did not have the device needed to lower it.

This was the fourth incident of this kind in four years at the same road.

South Central Ambulance has since re-routed its satnav system and the route plan for its response system to ensure it does not direct out-of-area staff on that journey.

More than 2,600 residents and businesses responded to a consultation on lowering the bollards, with 83 per cent in favour of the trial as long as mitigation measures were in place.

The trial is proposed for later this year, once Highways Agency works on the M27 at junction 9, which started earlier this month and are expected to take 30 weeks, have been completed.