TRAFFIC in Liverpool city centre was thrown into chaos yesterday after two crashes in the Mersey Tunnels in the space of only two hours.

Streets across the city were grid-locked through the afternoon after the three vehicle pile-ups.

In one accident, a cancer patient was injured when the ambulance she was travelling in was caught up in the crash.

The incident happened in the Wallasey tunnel at 12.40pm when a heavy goods vehicle was involved in a collision with a Ford Fiesta. This in turn was in collision with the ambulance.

The ambulance was taking the cancer patient to Arrowe Park Hospital. She suffered minor bruising and was transferred to the hospital in another ambulance.

A male driver and passenger in the Fiesta suffered neck injuries and were taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

All traffic had to be diverted to the Birkenhead tunnel until 1.30pm because the second Wallasey tube was closed due to maintenance work.

Then at 2.10pm three cars collided in the Birkenhead tunnel.

Wreckage was thrown across all four lanes, forcing the tunnel to shut for more than an hour and ten minutes.

One female driver was taken to the Royal Hospital suffering shock.

Inspector Philip Moore, of Mersey Tunnels Police, said: "We had an extremely busy day but luckily no one was badly injured in the two incidents.

"These kind of pile-ups are rare in the tunnels. The Kingsway and Queensway tunnels were opened as soon as possible but unfortunately delays were inevitable.

"The Birkenhead tunnel incident in particular took a while to sort out because the collision occurred across all four lanes."

Although both tunnels had been cleared before the afternoon rush-hour, there were long queues of traffic in the city centre until 6pm.

A spokesman for AA Roadwatch said Scotland Road, Leeds Street and Great Howard Street were the worst hit. He said: "There were serious delays across the city from 3pm. Delays in the tunnels have a knock-on effect on major roads nearby.

"There were no significant hold-ups on the Wirral side."

Estate Agent James Hardy was one of the motorists affected by the traffic chaos. He had to reschedule an appointment with a client in Wirral because of the delays.

Mr Hardy, 27, from Allerton, said: "This is the second time this has happened to me.

"I ended up sitting in a queue for about an hour. I'm on the road a lot, and delays like this can affect my business."