BADLY parked cars left on the side of narrow Worcester streets could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency, fire crews have warned.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service says its crews are sometimes delayed getting to emergency calls because they are forced to drive slowly down certain city roads.

Spokesman Alec Mackie said they had been called to reports of a house fire in Pitmaston Road, St John's, Worcester, on Tuesday night at about 8.26pm.

"Because it was reported as a house fire we sent two fire engines, but when they got into Pitmaston Road they had to crawl along moving this rather large 60 tonne fire engine between parked cars on either side of the road," he said.

"Parked cars on narrow roads are okay if parked correctly but the guys on Tuesday night had even more difficulty because the cars were parked at angles sticking out which made it extremely difficult for the drivers of both engines to get there.

"As it happened when they got there it was a small fire in the living room caused by an imitation coal gas fire."

He said firefghters had put the fire out and luckily it had not caused too much damage but the consequences could have been a lot worse.

"We were delayed by about three or four minutes trying to get up Pitmaston Road and those minutes could have been vital had it been a more serious fire," said Mr Mackie.

"We always have to drive with consideration for other road users even when we are on blue lights but when you can't get to the job in the time we are supposed to it causes problems."

He said they had faced similar problems recently in areas including Arboretum, Hill Avenue and roads off Bath Road and Battenhall Road, as well as Warndon Villages and St Peter's where people still park on the narrow roads rather than using their drives or garages.

The Worcester News has reported previously about parking problems in Nightingale Avenue, Warndon Villages, where people were concerned ambulances might not be able to get through.

Mr Mackie said: "We understand people have to park their cars on the road but if they park close up to the kerb in a straight line it would make life a lot easier for fire crews and emergency crews to get to incidents."