Ambulances are being left on double yellow lines and over residents' driveways because there is not enough room at their High Wycombe station.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has apologised to residents living in West End Street for the disruption. 

One resident, pleading for help via FixMyStreet, said at some points there are up to seven ambulances parked at the top of West End Street, over drives, on double yellow lines or in residents-only parking spaces, at a time because there is no space for them to park inside the nearby ambulance station. 

When the Bucks Free Press went to take a look on Friday, there was one ambulance on double yellow lines and another parked in the 'permit holders only' spaces. 

The resident said: "It is often impossible for visitors or residents to park because the ambulance station just can't accommodate its staff's cars and the ambulances.

"Please could someone have a look at the overall problem.

"I am very grateful to the ambulance staff for doing their best not to inconvenience residents but they currently have no choice."

They suggested other locations where ambulances could park, including the old Needham Bowl site on Desborough Road or the unrestricted parking spaces at the entrance to Tom Burt's Hill - but there actually are plans in the making for a new ambulance station, although they seem to have made little progress. 

It was announced in July last year that a "modern and larger" ambulance station would be built on the former Orchard House site, off Cressex Link, because their current station was too small and "not fit for purpose". 

The old Orchard House site is council-owned, but is derelict and has been victim of vandalism and trespassing in the past. 

The Bucks Free Press asked Buckinghamshire Council for an update on the plans for the new ambulance station to relieve the chronic overcrowding issues. 

They said the plan for a new ambulance resource centre is "still at an exploratory stage" and there is no live planning application as yet.

Andy Battye, Clinical Operations Manager for South Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said:“I would like to apologise to local residents for any disruption the parking challenges we have with our existing site is causing to them and thank them for their continued patience.

"Our aim is to move the ambulance station to a new, larger site and we are working with Buckinghamshire Council to progress these plans.”