EIGHT volunteers have been trained to provide lifesaving medical cover to rural communities in the Yorkshire Dales.

A First Responders scheme was introduced in Reeth, Swaledale, on Thursday night.

The volunteers will provide emergency first-aid before the arrival of an ambulance.

They will be called to help heart attack patients, stroke victims, epileptics and sufferers of other medical conditions who need emergency treatment.

The volunteers were trained by community paramedic Pete Shaw.

He said: "The first responders are community-orientated people who have volunteered to give potentially lifesaving first aid to others in their community.

"I have the utmost respect for them as they have stepped forward and are giving up their time to help someone else. They're a marvellous group of people."

Volunteer Irene Slassor, 50, property section leader for Newsquest North-East, the publisher of The Northern Echo and the Darlington and Stockton Times, was on duty for the first shift on Thursday night.

She said: "I do first aid at work and have a big interest in it.

"I've always wanted to do something to help the community, but have never found anything that has taken my fancy.

"I'm sure we'll all be nervous when the phone goes off that first time, but we've been trained to cope."

The volunteers began their training last November and took their exams in June. They will initially cover the Reeth, Grinton and Marrick area, where there is mobile phone coverage.

The group is equipped with a defibrillator and can administer oxygen. Volunteers will not be called to trauma incidents such as car crashes.

The group was supported by the Richmond Rotarians, who paid for the hire of the hall for the volunteers' training.

The Swaledale First Responders group is looking for more volunteers. Training for any new starters will begin next month.

More volunteers are also needed for the Middleham, Redmire, Melsonby and Aysgarth/Carperby groups.

For details, call (01748) 884192 or visit the First Responders stall at Reeth Show on August 30.