ASHTON-under-Lyne Labour MP Angela Rayner has demanded a police inquiry into the overpayment of £1.5 million in taxpayers’ cash to a profiteering ambulance operator.

Greater Manchester health authorities contracted out non-emergency ambulance services to Arriva Transport Solutions under government competition rules.

But Arriva has faced a catalogue of complaints about lateness and non-arrivals.

The company admits it was overpaid £1.5m after “overstating” its performance.

Although the company repaid the cash, Ms Rayner wants a police investigation.

“We warned at the time that such an important public service was not safe in the hands of the private sector, which is driven by profit instead of patient care,” she said.

“That’s why, with such huge sums of public money involved, a police investigation needs to be carried out.”