AN appeal has been made for people living in rural communities to take part in a pioneering scheme designed to reduce the number of deaths caused by heart attacks.

The call was made by Lancashire Ambulance Service as it was revealed a pilot project of the First Responders scheme has already begun saving lives.

First Responders is run by the Heart of Lancashire Appeal, a charity which aims to reduce the number of deaths from heart attacks and sudden illness within Lancashire.

Members of the First Responders scheme are volunteers who, after training by Lancashire Ambulance Service, are mobilised to incidents near to them which are thought to be heart-related and possibly life-threatening.

Volunteers are trained to provide basic life support and to use defibrillators for patients in cardiac arrest -- those whose hearts have stopped beating.

Money is being raised by communities across East Lancashire to fund the purchase of defibrillators in towns and villages. Now the hunt is on to find people who can be trained to use them.

A trial version of First Responders is already celebrating success -- saving the life of a diner at Heathcotes Restaurant in Longridge. Three First Responders -- Matthew Gallagher, Nicola Kitchen and Elaine Wright -- were called to the scene.

Mr Gallagher said: "The patient's condition had deteriorated rapidly and her heart had stopped beating.

"We used our training and applied the defibrillator, which recognises the condition automatically and delivers a shock to restart the heart.

"We were able to reapply a pulse prior to the arrival of the emergency services.

"We are all delighted our training helped save someone's life."

The patient, from Thornton Cleveleys, was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital and later discharged.

David Hill, chief executive of Lancashire Ambulance Service, said: "There is no doubt the fast action of the volunteer firs responders provided the immediate life-saving treatment the patient required and that the outcome may not have been as fortunate had they not attended so soon.

"It is well known that immediate treatment in cardiac arrest victims is crucial to providing a positive outcome and in conjunction with the Heart of Lancashire Appeal we are aiming to establish a network of trained and equipped first responders to provide assistance to patients in the minimum possible time following heart attacks."

Anyone wishing to help the appeal can ring coordinator Lisa Hulley on 01772 903989.