AMBULANCE delays at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, left a teenager waiting in pain for more than an hour.

A high number of medical emergencies taken to the hospital led to ambulance crews having to wait for their trolleys on Sunday.

Anthony Potts, 17, pictured with dad Colin, of Cartwright Green, Malpas, dislocated his knee at 5.50pm. His father called 999 for help - to be told all the ambulances were busy.

After waiting an hour a neighbour again phoned 999. Ten minutes later an ambulance arrived.

Dad Colin Potts said: "When we arrived at the Gwent all the corridors were full of ambulance trolleys with patients on them, and all the ambulances were stuck outside casualty. There were eight ambulances there. They couldn't go back out because patients were on their trolleys waiting to be seen.

"I asked one driver what would happen if there was a pile-up on the motorway. He said there wouldn't be any ambulances available."

Mel Howells who runs an Astroturf league club at the Spytty Park complex in Newport, also had difficulties getting an ambulance for an injured player.

Mr Howells phoned for an ambulance at 8.10pm. It was suspected a player had broken his wrist.

He said: "We were waiting in the freezing cold for 50 minutes before we finally decided to take him to the hospital ourselves."

A spokesman for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust said fast turnover was often difficult during very busy times. He added: "Major work is currently being carried out on a new Medical Assessment Unit, which will move us away from formally admitting patients for observation and certain tests and create a dedicated assessment area.

"This will avoid the need for many patients having to be admitted."