An investigation was under way yesterday following allegations of fraud among staff at the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Three employees, understood to include two managers, were suspended following the claims, the SAS said.

One report suggested they were asked to go home after the NHS Counter Fraud Service arrived at the ambulance training headquarters at Barony Castle, Peebles, in the Borders.

It is understood the claims involve hundreds of thousands of pounds, span a number of years and are related to staff who operated their own separate businesses of a related nature outwith the service.

It was reported that the inquiry was sparked off after an ambulance service vehicle was involved in a crash in Ireland, and police involvement led to questions being raised about why the vehicle was out of the country.

An SAS spokesman said: "The Scottish Ambulance Service has called in its internal auditors and NHS Counter Fraud Services to investigate allegations raised about the external financial/training interests of some staff.

"The investigation is rigorously examining every aspect of these allegations and, as part of this process, three members of staff have been suspended. The matter is not related to the delivery of patient care."