Generous villagers have helped pay for a new vehicle manned by volunteers which is full of lifesaving equipment.

Prestwood's Community First Responders - a team of volunteers who attend to medical emergencies before an ambulance can get to the scene - have been given the new 4x4 vehicle to improve the standard of care they can give to residents.

Businesses and residents in the village raised £14,000 in 18 months to pay for the vehicle, with a further £1,000 being spent on the paintwork and £2,000 more on the medical equipment inside by South Central Ambulance NHS Trust, which co-ordinates the volunteer team.

Marc Lister, community liaison and training officer with South Central Ambulance NHS Trust, said: "This new vehicle really highlights what they are doing to the public.

"It's been so well received within the local community. They have got together to raise the money for this as they have agreed this is a worthwhile initiative. Lots of donations have come in as it was clearly something the community felt they would benefit from.

"They have almost a sense of ownership with the group in their village and a sense of pride of what they have achieved, and they have done it with a sense of professionalism."

One of the volunteers, Bob Davy, said: "Up until now Community First Responders have had to use their own cars to attend 999 calls in the area which covers a nominal six miles radius of the village. This was not ideal when emergencies were located on farm land, up rough tracks or when snow prevented safe travel on the many hills.

"The new vehicle will be able to tackle the difficult to access areas as well as having a better GPS system and extra medical equipment.

"Virtually all the funds have come from organisations and individuals within Prestwood and the surrounding villages - no national fund-providers were involved - making this a truly local project."

Describing the work of the community responders, Mr Lister said: "It fits really well with their own lifestyle, and they do it whenever they can make themselves available.

"If Mrs Miggins dials 999 for her or her husband we will always despatch an ambulance or car, but it might have to travel quite a way to get to them. We have community responders that could be literally round the corner.

"If they are within a five minute drive of an emergency and are available, the control room will call for them to pop round to Mrs Miggins."

He added there was a desperate need for more volunteers to join the scheme: "In Wycombe we only have one volunteer - it should be about 50. We are really under resourced in terms of volunteers."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can find out more by going to www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk and downloading the application pack. You can also call 0800 5870207 or email cfr@scas.nhs.uk.