A ST JOHN Ambulance group which was facing closure just over a year ago has been given a new lease of life.

After more than a century of helping local people, members of the Leyland Quad Division feared their life-saving service would be axed after the lease on their Leyland Lane premises ended late last year.

The cash-strapped group were having difficulty finding the money to pay the renewal costs on the building and appealed to The Citizen to help find new premises.

Now, thanks to a kind-hearted reader, the group has found a new home at a local church where there is room to store their essential hi-tech equipment.

Louise Newton, brigade member of the Leyland St John Ambulance, said: "One of our members is a member of Midge Hall Methodist Church.

"The minister read the article and offered us room to rent. It's perfect. The church went out of their way to help us."

All St John Ambulance volunteers are expected to train to the same high standards of emergency staff at Lancashire Ambulance Service.

But members feared they would not be able to continue their training unless suitable premises could be found.

"We were very concerned the Leyland Quad Division would be no more," said Louise. "It is an 11th hour rescue and we are delighted.

"We are still able to do our duties and train. And the new place is not much further than the old one. It's about ten minutes extra travelling time."

Reverend Ken Sowerby, of Midge Hall Methodist Church, Longmeanygate, says the church was more than happy to help.

He said: "The church is happy to support and enable the work to carry on. The church has an obligation to the community. Fortunately we had the premises."

The group now meet every Tuesday evening in the church hall, Midge Hall, Leyland. For information phone Louise during the day on 424321 or Dorothy at night on 451384.