MERSEYTRAVEL has been SLAMMED by a commuter after a broken down car in the Kingsway Tunnel caused '10,000 people to be late for work.'

But the transport body hit back by saying it’s also drivers’ jobs to ensure their cars are in 'roadworthy condition', and that Mersey Tunnels Police remove 'over 80% of breakdowns within 10 minutes.'

They added that on Tuesday, when a broken down vehicle caused huge tailbacks for rush hour commuters, the circumstances were more difficult than usual.

A spokeswoman added: “While we do all we can to keep delays to a minimum, it is also the responsibility of tunnel users to ensure that their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition to avoid such incidents which impact upon fellow tunnel users.”

It comes after the incident on Tuesday morning that hit commuters using the Wallasey Kingsway Tunnels, and led to 45 minute delays crossing the Mersey.

Wirral resident Justine Greig was one of those caught in the traffic, meaning the trip to work in Liverpool from her home in Liscard took an hour and 10 minutes – 45 minutes longer than usual.

Ms Greig said: “I have to say that one broken down car making 10,000 people late for work is not acceptable in 2018, especially when it puts Wallasey in total gridlock.

“The subsequent road rage – I saw three incidents following this – just shows how angry people are.

“The Tunnels Police need to up their game and get these incidents dealt with quicker.”

Ms Greig, who works at the University of Liverpool, said she “totally accepted” that accidents and incidents happen, but added: “I just think that whatever the police have in place for these events could be improved.

“My usual commute takes 20 minutes from Liscard to the university, 35 if it is busy – usually Tuesday to Thursday.”

She was also caught up in the traffic from another incident on Friday, believed to have involved a single car on the Liverpool-bound lanes, which delayed her even more.

Speaking about that incident, she said: “I managed to get out of the gridlocked traffic and head for the Birkenhead tunnel, only to get caught on Argyle Street for 25 minutes. The trip took one hour 40 minutes.

“Years ago, they would open up a lane in the Wirral-bound tunnel side when traffic was at standstill. Another idea would be to hold the Liverpool traffic at Byrom Street to let everyone out quicker. The vehicles trying to fight for a lane become so dangerous, but I think people were getting angry after the wait. Collectively there is a cost to business and each person.”

Ms Greig’s initial post on social media about the delays also provoked a lot of comments agreeing with her.

The Merseytravel spokeswoman read: “Whenever there is a breakdown in either tunnel, Mersey Tunnels Police remove over 80% of breakdowns within 10 minutes, where the vehicle has broken down and can be safely towed to the tunnel exit.

“However when vehicles need specialist recovery, HGVs, automatic cars or cars without a spare wheel for example, then obviously it takes longer for a recovery vehicle to arrive at the scene and to recover the vehicle, triggering longer delays.”

She added that in those cases, “safety is our first priority” and it’s “standard practice” for all traffic to be stopped at the entrance until the situation is assessed or cleared.

She added: “In Tuesday’s case one of the vehicle’s wheels had fallen off and therefore it could not be easily towed away by our patrol vehicle. Whilst we do all we can to keep delays to a minimum, it is also the responsibility of tunnel users to ensure that their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition to avoid such incidents which impact upon fellow tunnel users.”