A woman says she took over three quarters of an hour to reach police when a motorist drove "drunk as a lord" the wrong way up a one-way street

Augusta Pearson told a meeting that she waited 48 minutes to get through to police by phone.

She told a residents’ group: “I dialled 101 and had to wait 48 minutes. Someone went the wrong way up the High Street drunk as a lord.”

Mrs Pearson, a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator revealed this at the Tower Hamlets Forum annual meeting.

She explained afterwards to our sister paper the East Kent Mercury the incident had happened last December.

She had seen the silver Opel Astra turn right from Tower Hamlets Road and go along Dover High Street “waltzing, swaying all over the place”.

The car continued for hundreds of yards, going into the pedestrianised Biggin Street.

She dialled 101, still holding the mobile phone to her ear as she ran in pursuit of the car.

Her phone kept cutting off and she rang three times, making the whole wait 48 minutes.

She never got through and a passer-by took over making the call.

Mrs Pearson, 68, told the Mercury: “The car stopped outside Boots in Biggin Street and the driver was slumped at the wheel, appearing to be asleep.

“A member of the public opened the door and he got out stumbling. He was speaking loudly and took off up the street.

“I can’t blame the police, they are incredibly busy and I suppose I could have got a different result if I had just dialled 999 but I didn’t think.”

Mrs Pearson is convinced that the driver had been drinking because of his demeanour and physical movement. Mrs Pearson, who was at the meeting as a committee member, had with other residents been discussing the 101 police non-emergency service.

They had spoken to Insp Stuart Norris, of Dover’s Community Support Unit who said he had no influence on the 101 system but said there was a high demand for it.

"The car stopped and the driver was slumped at the wheel, appearing to be asleep" - Augusta Pearson

He said the public should dial 999 when a crime is in progress and the police call handler would still prioritise and triage calls.

Ch Supt Nicola Faulconbridge said: "During peak times, it can take longer than usual to answer non-emergency 101 calls, as our call handlers will prioritise emergency calls to the 999 system where there is the greatest risk of threat or harm.

"We ask people to remain patient and try again later if possible.

"Alternatively, if it is not an emergency the public can report an incident, a crime or a non-injury road traffic collision on the force’s website at www.kent.police.uk

"People should call 999 only if they believe there is a danger to life, a risk of imminent injury or if a crime is in progress.

"Every contact we receive is important to us and we are committed to keeping people safe by ensuring our professional service puts victims and witnesses first.

"There are now more ways to contact Kent Police than ever before, including attending our front counters, or visiting our website which allows people to report crime in minutes."