FIREFIGHTERS were forced to walk in front of their fire engine along the A34 on Sunday to clear a path through gridlocked traffic following a crash. 

The fire service has revealed crews were delayed in responding to an emergency call on Sunday evening after fire engines could not get through the long queue of cars near Milton Park.

Crews were ultimately forced to get out of the vehicle and walk down the carriageway to move motorists out of the way in order to reach the crash scene - the second of two accidents on the A34 that night.

Fire crews from Kidlington, Wheatley, Bicester and Banbury, as well as police and paramedics all attended the two crashes on the northbound and southbound carriageways. 

Following the incident Oxfordshire Fire Service issued a reminder to drivers to create space for emergency vehicles, while also issuing a warning over ‘rubbernecking’, which it said had been the cause of the second crash.

In a statement on social media yesterday Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This evening our crews had to physically walk ahead of the fire engine and move motorists to make a path for us to get through to attend an incident that was caused by drivers looking at a collision on the other carriageway. 

“Crews from Kidlington, Wheatley, Bicester and Banbury all attended the incidents on both sides of the A34 just by Junction 9 along with multiple units from South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police

“Please remember - all the services need room to get through and not observing the road when passing incidents can cause further accidents and stretch emergency services as well as ruining your day.

It is not known if anyone was injured in the two incidents.

More to follow.