TWO volunteer ambulance crew members in Alston, who were suspended for operating a blue light when they were not trained to do so, have been reinstated.

The pair were said to have used it while on the way to help a suspected heart attack victim in Alston on October 5, because a car was blocking a narrow road.

Alston has had its own ambulance for 46 years staffed by local people who have some training, but are not qualified paramedics.

They provide first aid while 999 crews travel from Carlisle or Penrith.

Local councillor Raymond Miller said: “If they hadn’t been reinstated, Alston would have been in serious danger.

“It limited the cover even more and it would have gone down to a serious case of life or death.”

More than 1,800 people signed a petition for the suspension by the North West Ambulance Service of the two volunteers to be dropped.

It said: “Get them the training, but first drop the suspension and get our town’s volunteers back out there first to respond while waiting for an ambulance travelling from miles away.”

The Alston Community Ambulance was threatened with abolition in 2014 due to funding cuts.

However, extensive campaigning from locals, the parish council and Penrith and the Borders MP Rory Stewart, saved it.

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said: “We have trained a number of local people to be able to respond to emergencies whilst they wait for the next available ambulance to arrive, however they do not have blue light training and are aware that blue lights and sirens or emergency driving should not be used. All drivers are required to undertake training in the use of the blue lights on their vehicles prior to using them.

She added: “We have since spoken to the responders in question to remind them of the agreements in place and the strict guidance and laws which cover blue light driving and protects themselves and other road users. The work of responders in Alston is extremely valued by the trust and the local community, and we hope to continue our close relationship with them going forward.”

They pair have agreed to follow ambulance service policy and are now operational again.

Coun. Miller added: “At the moment, we don’t have a fully functional ambulance. We still need to fight to ask for the blue light training and a life pack to better equip the paramedics.

“We need to push to get the training as soon as possible.”