Norwegian police have admitted they failed to chose the shortest route to the island of Utoeya after the alarm was raised over last month’s massacre.

The force has come under much criticism for taking more than an hour to reach the victims of Anders Behring Breivik who killed 69 people in a shooting spree.

Police have accepted a Norwegian television report which pointed out they could have boarded a boat only 670 metres from where the carnage was taking place instead of from a quay more than three kilometres away.

Breivick killed a further eight people in a bomb blast in the centre of Oslo before making his way to the island. It now appears he was under the influence of illegal drugs when he carried out the twin attacks.

Norway is still coming to terms with the tragic loss of life, most of them youngsters. The investigation is continuing into establishing if Breivik acted alone or if any other individuals where involved.