Scottish ambulance crews claim they were forced to ration supplies of oxygen for patients after an office blunder. 

Paramedics say that their portable cylinders of oxygen were dangerously low and that no one was available to order replacements due to staff illness. 

The affected area's stock of gas is kept in Elgin, Moray, and it is understood that the shortage affected many ambulances across the region. 

Bosses at the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) have insisted that patients were never in danger and that a satisfactory supply of oxygen was maintained. 

But paramedics claimed they had to ration the gas during the festive period and only provided oxygen to those most in need. 

And they revealed that patients across the whole of north-east Scotland were affected, as crews from Elgin routinely respond to calls across Moray and into Aberdeenshire. 

One paramedic, who did not want to be named, said: "This highlights the shambles that is the Scottish Ambulance Service. 

"We take these tanks to practically every emergency call we go to, it's a basic that we have to have. 

"Anyone with breathing difficulties or heart problems would require them." 

The oxygen tanks are considered essential by paramedics, along with their ECG machines. 

And they say it was only through luck that the lack of oxygen did not have a greater impact on affected patients. 

The paramedic added: "The consequences could have been dire." 

The Scottish Chest, Heart and Stroke charity said it had raised the issue with ambulance bosses. 

Mark Ballard, director of strategy and communications at the charity, said: "We take the safety of people living with our conditions seriously." 

Milne Weir, the SAS' north division general manager, said: "The service is satisfied that required levels of oxygen were available."