The Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association's national helpline has been plagued with technical problems.

The helpline gives the public a freephone number to call in the event of an accident; an operator directs them to their nearest VBRA repairer.

Initial problems emerged when some of the numbers initially publicised connected to fax machines or were not answered. In addition, mobile phones can not access the helpline, limiting its usefulness.

VBRA business manager Alan Bird, who called the helpline the “biggest work providing initiative” ever seen in the industry, said the problems were “technical glitches” caused by BT.

Mr Bird added that people on a mobile phone often did not know their exact location and were difficult to direct to the nearest VBRA member.