Katie Evans had enjoyed a day out in Llandudno before becoming ill

Katie Evans, 18 months, died two days later after an emergency operation.

Her parents had expected an ambulance almost immediately after the 999 call, as they live close to the station in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it had missed its eight minute target as it was on another emergency call.

At this stage there was no independent confirmation that delay was a contributory factor in Katie's death.

It had taken them 19 minutes to reach Katie with another ambulance because the local ambulance crew was dealing with another emergency.

Katie had been out for a day at the shops with her family in Llandudno on 22 April. But late the same evening three hours after she was put to bed the toddler collapsed unconscious in her mother's arms.

Life-support system

Her mother, Kayley Evans, dialled 999 immediately and expected the ambulance within minutes as the station is around 300 yards from her house.

But instead it took up to 30 minutes for paramedics to arrive and the sick toddler was taken first to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, and then by air ambulance to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool.

Katie was operated on but her condition became critical and her life-support system was switched off on 24 April, two days after the emergency begun.

Ms Evans, 22 and Katie's father Gary Lewis, 25, said they did not blame the ambulance staff for the delay in their daughter reaching hospital.

But they said they wanted to find out what happened to cause the delay.

Mr Lewis said: "We often see the ambulance waiting in a lay-by at Maentwrog, halfway between Blaenau and Porthmadog.

"That suggests to me that the ambulances are being spread too thinly.

Gary Lewis says he just wants to know what happened

"We don't blame the paramedics, who do their best under the circumstances. It is the system that is at fault.

"People in towns and cities don't have to wait that long for ambulances, so why should we? Are we not good enough to deserve a proper service?

"It's too late for me, now. I've lost my only daughter, but I would hate to see another family go through this."

In a statement Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust extended its condolences to Katie's family.

"When the ambulance service received the 999 call the local Blaenau Ffestiniog ambulance was already responding to an emergency in the area so the nearest available ambulance was sent and arrived within 19 minutes," it said.

While the ambulance was on its way to the house, ambulance control staff contacted the police and a local GP also helped, the statement said.

When the crew arrived, they used advanced resuscitation skills successfully and took Katie to hospital.