Ambulance chiefs have told takeaway customers a £5 meal could cost a patient their life – if paramedics can’t get through queues.

South Western Ambulance Service said its crews had struggled to get past queues to attend emergency calls because roads were blocked around newly-reopened restaurants.

The service wrote online: “If it’s too busy and it’s unsafe to queue because of traffic, please go back later. It could be your family we are trying to get to or are critically ill in the back of an ambulance.

“And at the end of the day please remember. Your takeaway can wait. Our patients cannot. What could cost you a fiver may cost someone their life.”