An inquiry has been launched over complaints that an ambulance carrying a sick woman was delayed over a £1.20 tunnel toll.

The investigation began after it was alleged that a member of staff in the toll booth refused to allow the ambulance to pass through the tunnel under the Mersey estuary because the driver did not have enough money to pay the fee.

Ambulance chiefs say the vehicle was held up for 10 minutes as it took a patient to a hospital in Cheshire.

It has been confirmed that Lancashire Ambulance Service has made a complaint to Merseytravel, the organisation which oversees the operation of the two Mersey tunnels, over the matter.

Merseytravel has confirmed it is investigating the allegations.

BBC Radio Merseyside said the incident happened on Friday night.

A 74-year-old woman with breathing difficulties was being moved by ambulance from Ormskirk District Hospital to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

'Seriously ill'

A cashier at the Kingsway Tunnel - also known as the Wallasey tunnel - is believed to have refused to let the ambulance through until the driver paid the toll.

The driver is said to have insisted he was carrying a seriously ill patient, but did not have money with which to pay the fee..

The vehicle was reportedly only allowed through the tunnel barrier when an ambulance technician travelling in the back of the vehicle with the patient provided the cash.

Lancashire Ambulance Service said it was aware Mersey Tunnel required a toll fee when the journey was not an emergency.

'Following orders'

But they said when the paramedic explained he had a seriously ill patient on board he assumed he would be allowed through and an invoice sent to the service.

Chief executive David Hill said: "I appreciate that the tunnel attendant would be following orders but I would have hoped that in such circumstances reason would prevail in the best interests of the patient.

"The ambulance was clearly marked and identifiable, the crew were in uniform and the paramedic explained that there was a very sick patient on board, accompanied by a nurse and doctor.

"As it happened, the patient's condition did not deteriorate during the ambulance journey as a result of the delay."

The tunnel, opened in 1971 by the Queen, is one of two tunnels built under the river Mersey to connect Liverpool with the Wirral peninsula.

The Kingsway tunnel links Liverpool with the town of Wallasey and the M53 motorway.

The other tunnel - Queensway - runs between Liverpool and Birkenhead and was opened in 1934 by King George V.