REDDITCH Community First Responders annual fundraising day has been hailed a huge success.

The group, which provides vital emergency and often lifesaving care, held the event at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre to launch the group's new 4x4 response car.

On the day, which included a number of demonstrations and activities, £1,462 was raised.

Barclays Bank added £1,000 to that amount to take the total to £2,462 - enough to equip two new volunteer lifesavers for Redditch.

The responders, which provide life saving treatments until an ambulance arrives on scene, recently launched an appeal for £4,000 for a car for the team of 12 volunteers to use when responding to 999 emergencies.

Kelly O'Brien, from Redditch First Responders, said: "We received some significant donations to help us reach our £4,000 goal so we'd like to give a special thanks to deputy mayor Pattie Hill, Redditch Round Table, Redditch Rotary Club, Carlyle Bus and Coach Ltd and Celebrate and Decorate.

"The launch of the new car means that we are now able to offer a higher level of support to West Midlands Ambulance Service as we now have a total of three marked cars, two of which are 4x4 vehicles meaning we can reach some of the most challenging locations regardless of the conditions or weather."

She added a big thank you everyone who attended the fundraising event.

For further information about Redditch First Responders, visit facebook.com/redditchcfr