KNUTSFORD Community First Responders can continue driving forward their life-saving campaign thanks to the generosity of a Radbroke Hall-based business.

After hearing that the First Responders old vehicle needed replacing, Barclays stepped up to the mark and donated £6,500 towards a new vehicle.

The original vehicle has been critical to the First Responder team, with over 7,000 emergency calls attended in the eight years since it was bought.

Adrian Rees, chairman of Knutsford Community First Responder Trust, said: “On behalf of the trust and the whole Knutsford community, we would like to thank Barclays for their generous donations.

“I am delighted to announce that, with Barclays generously donating a significant proportion of the funds required and the balance being raised by many fundraising events held by the trust around Knutsford and the generosity of the Knutsford public, a new First Responder vehicle has been purchased.”

Working alongside the North West Ambulance Service, Knutsford Community First Responders have been helping save lives in the community since its formation in 2003.

Run by a fully trained team of volunteers, they provide a vital localised 999 response service to assist in life threatening emergencies until the arrival of the paramedics.

Being a charity, Knutsford Community First Responder Trust depends entirely on the generosity of local businesses, community associations and the Knutsford public in donating funds to enable this valuable service to exist.

A spokesperson for the Families Day committee from Barclays Technology Centre Radbroke Hall, Knutsford said: “We are delighted with the amount raised for Knutsford First Responders and would like to thank everyone who supported us to make this happen.

“Barclays has a fantastic community investment programme that encourages employees to get involved in the causes they care about.

“It’s about giving back our skills, time and energy to support our local communities – so we’re thrilled to have raised £6,500.”