PARLIAMENTARY candidate Sir Bob Russell has welcomed the inclusion of first aid and emergency lifesaving skills in the Liberal Democrat party manifesto.

Sir Bob has championed the cause of first aid training being included in the national school curriculum by regularly raising the matter in the House of Commons.

He was also chairman of the allparty first aid group in the last parliament and has worked closely with St John Ambulance, supported by the Red Cross and British Heart Foundation.

Sir Bob said: “I am delighted this is now in our party manifesto.

I hope I will be in a position to take it forward in the next Parliament.

“With every pupil and student being competent in first aid, it will result not only in lives being saved it will also help reduce pressure on hospital accident and emergency departments.”

! Sir Bob is standing as the Lib Dem candidate in the forthcoming General Election against Mark Goacher (Green), Jordan Newell (Labour) John Pitts (Ukip), Will Quince (Conservative) and Ken Scrimshaw (Christian People’s Alliance).