Ambulance 'refused emergency call'

Avon Ambulance Service has launched an investigation

An investigation is under way into claims emergency operators refused to send an ambulance to a crash half a mile outside its catchment area.

Avon Ambulance Service has apologised to Nigel Carter, from Midsomer Norton, Somerset, who called 999 to report an accident involving his daughter.

Mr Carter, 52, says that when he asked for help, an operator told him: "What do you expect me to do about it?"

The accident happened on the A367 near Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset.

Mr Carter's 24-year-old daughter Hayley Green was involved in the head-on crash on Tuesday morning, but was not seriously hurt.

Firefighters arrived at the scene and were able to call an ambulance which arrived 45 minutes later.

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said on Saturday it was investigating the incident and had apologised to the Green family.