AN ambulance’s response time attending to a disabled woman who was left lying in the road for 90 minutes has been blasted as ‘appalling’ by a Clitheroe town councillor.

Marion Parfitt, 67, who has multiple sclerosis, was left covered in blood and in pain as she and her husband waited for help to arrive after falling in Clitheroe on Friday afternoon.

Mrs Parfitt from Sabden was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Coun Kevin Horkin said he had brought the issue to the attention of Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans’ office and intended to report it to the Parliamentary Health and Service Ombudsman.

He said: “I find it appalling that something like this can happen.

“The national response time is eight minutes but it seems like in rural areas we are treated as second-class citizens.

“It’s disgraceful and I hope that the reasons behind it are properly explained.

“I have spoken to Marion’s daughter and the family are very concerned.

“This sort of thing is just not acceptable.”

The ambulance service said that other cases had to be prioritised on the afternoon of Mrs Parfitt’s accident as they were considered to be more serious.