LIFESAVERS have marked the 25th anniversary of their service.

Brightlingsea Community First Responders celebrated 25 years having been formed in 1997 following a project by some members of Essex Ambulance Service.

Five First Responder groups were set up in Essex in Brightlingsea, West Mersea, Tiptree, Hullbridge and Lakeside Shopping Centre.

The aim of the group is to ensure volunteers were on the scene of a cardiac arrest within minutes to increase the patient's chance of survival, especially in outlaying areas which take longer to get to by paramedics.

Zulu One Brightlingsea was the first to group to go live in Essex, and the first of its type in the country.

Over the 25 years of operations, many things have changed, from the calls the group attends to the equipment carried and skills taught in training.

The group is still entirely composed of volunteers. In the first five years of going live, they attended 200 calls. The year until April, they attended 522 calls and provided 8,025 hours of voluntary hours on call.

To commemorate the landmark achievement of 25 years in service, the group held an open afternoon tea event at the St James' Church in Brightlingsea.

Two members of the original responder team were in attendance, as well as Brightlingsea mayor Mick Barry and the Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea, councillors and members of the public.

Stephen Johnson and Steve Wicks were presented with Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medals and commemorative coins were given to the rest of the team.

Steve was also presented with a certificate for ten years of service.

Stephen Johnson, the services co-ordinator, said: “Saturday was well attended by members of the public and the community, past responders and dignitaries.

“It was a great, friendly atmosphere with a lot of past patients coming to show their appreciation.

“We’re glad to support the community and attend to people when they are in need, being dispatched by the ambulance service to deal with life threatening calls.

“Having someone there when you are in need is so important and that is what we do.”