HASLEMERE firefighters have issued a 999 call to inconsiderate drivers, who park so badly they are delaying fire engines getting to emergency incidents.

“It’s a nightmare,” station chief Matt Oakley said. “We have had three incidents in the last four months when we have had to stop and reverse back and take an alternative route. The worst streets are Bridge Street and West Street and it’s become a constant headache for us.

“All we can do in the short term is appeal to drivers to be more considerate, as there is currently no method of introducing parking restrictions quickly. That can only be done as a result of a parking review by the local authority and can take many months.”

Hampshire Fire and Rescue (HFR) launched a #INeedMySpace campaign last month in response to an increase in the number of incidents in which motorists hinder emergency service vehicles due to poor parking and also erratic driving.

The campaign was launched to try and stop inconsiderate motorists putting lives at risk by blocking off roads and even stopping on box junctions outside fire stations.

Photographs and videos are posted under the campaign hashtag to illustrate offending vehicles in a bid to educate motorists.

HFR assistant chief officer Andy Bowers said: “The issue of motorists blocking the paths of emergency services vehicles is worse than ever before. Some drivers are parking opposite one another making an entire road inaccessible. Others are stopping by station exits, even in the hatched areas, and some are leaving cars on our grounds.”