Life-saving volunteers in the Stalham area have responded to more emergency calls in the first few months of 2017 than they have in the whole of last year.

Stalham First Responders clocked up 8000 hours, and travelled a total of 5000 miles to attend to 170 patients.

They have been awarded a grant for £9,503 from the Big Lottery Fund to help more people.

The money will be used to purchase more medical equipment to treat casualties with breathing difficulties, chest pains, fitting, diabetic shock, stroke, unconsciousness and cardiac arrest.

Trained by the ambulance service, the responders come from different walks of life and backgrounds.

Group deputy co-ordinator Tim Thirst said: 'It is reassuring to patients and their families to be seen first by someone they may already know in the community. This grant will enable us to update older pieces of equipment.'