A SCHEME which sees firefighters responding to medical emergencies in rural areas has been expanded to the North Cotswolds.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue has agreed its firefighters will respond to critical incidents in Chipping Campden, Fairford, Northleach, Stow-on-the-Wold and now Moreton-in-Marsh using an emergency vehicle and medical equipment from South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust.

The co-responding agreement means that if firefighters are closer to the victim they can attend cardiac and high priority emergencies and potentially provide life saving intervention before an ambulance arrives.

The scheme has been running for ten years to rural communities in Gloucestershire and was expanded to cover remote areas of the North Cotswolds in January.

To celebrate the expansion, a co-responder launch evening was held at Moreton-in-Marsh Community Fire Station on Tuesday, September 13.

Nigel Moor, county councillor for Stow and lead cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure joined the chief fire officer Stewart Edgar to the event along with Kevin Dickens from South West Ambulance Foundation Trust (SWASFT).

Mr Edgar said: "This is a great example of closer collaboration between emergency services which will lead to lives being saved.

“The scheme is well established in other parts of the County and expanding to the North Cotswolds is great news for the local community.”

Cllr Nigel Moor said: "Co-responding is a great example of partnership working with South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT) where firefighters in the North Cotswolds will provide a life-saving response."