More firefighters in Hampshire are to get medical training to offer life saving first aid at the scene of an emergency.

Due to its success in supplying fire crews in the county with life saving skills, the co-responder scheme with South Central Ambulance Service is being expanded.

Crews from Bordon, New Milton and Romsey were selected for the scheme in 2004, with others in the north of the county added later.

Now, firefighters at Hythe, Alresford, Andover (retained), Botley, Hamble, Lymington, Petersfield and Ringwood will get the training.

The first six units have been used in around 3,000 medical emergency 999 calls every year and it is hoped with the new units co-responders could save more lives by attending up to 10,000 calls per year.

Read full article: This is Hampshire.