PUPILS in Tynedale have been given the chance to learn life-saving CPR skills as part of Restart a Heart Day.

The event on Monday was organised in conjunction with the Resuscitation Council and the British Heart Foundation, and saw volunteers from the North East Ambulance Service delivering training in schools across Tynedale.

The aim was to train more than 150,000 young people across the country in one day - the largest CPR event of its kind.

Operations manager at the ambulance service, Gareth Campbell, said: "There is nothing more disheartening to an ambulance crew than arriving on scene to a patient where CPR is not in progress when it could have been.

"Equipping our youngsters with this vital life skill means we can ultimately save more lives. We are extremely proud to be part of Restart a Heart."

One of the schools taking part in this year's event was Corbridge Middle School, where around 110 pupils were trained by Emergency Care Assistant Stewart Connor and Community First Responder Danielle Liddle.

And for Danielle it doesn't stop there, as she will continue to support the school throughout the rest of the year as part of the school's regular enrichment days held every Friday with year seven classes.

Dean Johnston, deputy headteacher, said: "Our school ethos is to create responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society and so Restart a Heart Day fits perfectly with us.

"We know CPR is a really vital skill and is something which will equip our children for life. We're also really pleased to be working with Danielle throughout the rest of the school year."

Margaret Bowers, who works as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner at Hexham General Hospital's urgent care centre, and volunteers as a Community First Responder, also led training sessions at Slaley and Whitley Chapel First Schools.

A British Heart Foundation survey carried out in the North-East found 85 per cent of people surveyed would be reluctant to perform CPR on cardiac arrest victims. Forty three per cent of people said they feared doing more harm than good and 40 per cent said they lacked the skills and knowledge to perform CPR.

There are over 30,000 cardiac arrests every day in the UK and devastatingly, less than one in 10 survive.

In 2015, the Hexham Courant teamed up with The Stephen Carey Fund, a Northumberland charity which works to provide community Public Access Defibrillators across the county.

The year-long Heart of Gold campaign raised almost £10,000 and placed four defibrillators in communities across Tynedale.

Watch a video of the training taking place at Corbridge Middle School below.