Avoid delays to emergencies by parking responsibly, the fire service is urging.

The Fire and Rescue Service issued a statement following a routine access check of streets, alleys and back roads around the island which found a number of vehicles restricting entry for fire appliances and ambulances.

It calls for residents to maintain access ’at all times’ as an emergency is a sudden and unexpected event where ’time matters’.

Station officer, Roger Brown, called the access issue a ’never-ending battle’.

’It’s a daily occurrence and it happens in towns and villages across the island,’ he said.

’We go around some of the estates, especially at night, to check car parking.’

Cars that are parked half-way on kerbs or vehicles parked on either side of a tight street create a ’difficult’ problem during emergencies, he told the Manx Independent.

’In some of the older villages it’s more of a problem with the narrow streets and terraced buildings.

’And in today’s society families don’t have just one car and everyone wants to park outside their homes.

’The police, ourselves and the Department of Infrastructure - which carry out checks - we’re not horrible, we don’t go out there looking for problems. It’s something we’ll try and educate people about to make them more considerate.’

He added that there have been incidents in the past when cars have been in the way when emergency services have attended an incident.

Mr Brown said the service is understanding of the problem and appreciates those who move their cars off the streets when hearing the sirens. However, the issue of delays still stands as parking responsibly could make a big difference in a an emergency.