A BLUE LIGHT emergency response service tested in the New Forest has proved such a success it is being rolled out in three north Hampshire towns.

The Co-responders scheme, which brings together Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Ambulance, has been tried out in New Milton, Romsey and Bordon for the past 20 months.

Set up initially because ambulance teams could not get to incidents in the required eight-minute response time, it involves fire crews being trained to enhanced first aid standard and getting to incidents in double-quick time.

The decision whether to call in Co-responders is made by ambulance control.

Using a fire engine red Nissan Almera donated by Williams Bridge Garage, the New Milton Co-responders work in pairs and have access to basic first aid kit, a defibrillator, oxygen and equipment for clearing airways.

New Milton fire station manager Steve Tolley told the town council that nearly 1,300 emergency calls had been answered since the Co-responders service was formed in the town.

"A lot of them are to people having cardiac arrest or breathing difficulties and it's wonderful to see the look on their face when we've got there with oxygen equipment," he said.

He said there had been no problems working together with ambulance staff and the firefighters were now using their first aid skills, which rarely happened before.

"I can say to you now that in the 20 months that we've been doing it we have probably saved in excess of 20 lives."

Mr Tolley praised Williams Bridge Garage, which donated the Almera to mark its 30th anniversary, for its help in keeping the vehicle on the road.