KNUTSFORD volunteers have screened more than 100 young people for potential heart defects in partnership with a cardiac charity.

The Knutsford Community First Responders Trust hosted its debut heart screening event at Knutsford Methodist Church on Saturday, October 1 where people aged between 14 to 35 years of age could go for free to find out if they had any undetected heart problems.

The event, which cost £3,500 to run, was hosted in collaboration with Cardiac Risk in the Young (C-R-Y), and all 100 spaces were filled weeks in advance.

Adrian Rees, chairman of the first responders trust, said: “I was absolutely delighted with the results of the Trusts inaugural C-R-Y Screening day. Fully booked, in fact over-booked as we were able to screen 104 young adults in the day. My thanks to the fantastic C-R-Y team and our many volunteers who helped out.

“It's essential, with every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions, that we encourage as many Knutsford young adults to get a full screening.

“With the success of today, we have already committed to hosting two further C-R-Y screening days in Knutsford in 2017. Equally encouraging is that none of today’s screenings revealed any serious problems."

The money for the screenings was donated privately, by the Knutsford Lions, St Cross Church, the Hospital League of Friends, and the trust themselves.

In order to host two more screening days, the trust will need to make £10,000 from donations and fundraisers.

The screenings were conducted by the C-R-Y charity with the responders providing the facility and all the many support services required.

C-R-Y brought a team of seven from their HQ in Leatherhead; including a cardiac doctor, Echo-cardiogram operatives and trained nurses to conduct the ECG examinations.

Debbie Dixon, the CRY Cheshire Representative, said: “Such a great day with C-R-Y and Knutsford First Responders. 104 young adults screened today with no referrals is just so great.”