The ambulance service has defended a delay of more than an hour in taking a woman to hospital after she fell on a ferry.

Emergency crews were called to Dover docks just before 10am after the victim tripped down steps and cut her head.

But while a paramedic car arrived half an hour later, an ambulance did not reach the scene until after 11am.

The delay has been criticised, with one woman tweeting: "Shameful #kentambulanceservice taking over 45mins to attend @POferries onboard passenger @Port_of_Dover."

But South East Coast Ambulance Service said the injury was not considered "immediately life-threatening".

A spokesman said: "We were called this morning at 9.54am to the docks at Dover with reports of an adult female who had fallen down some steps on the ferry and suffered a cut to her head.

"With the information provided by the 999 caller, this was not classed as immediately life-threatening – a paramedic response car was on scene at 10.14am with the patient and was able to provide initial treatment.

"The back up ambulance arrived at 11.07am and the patient was transported to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford.

"We always try to respond to patients as promptly as possible, however we have to manage the resources we have available based on patient need."