Fundraisers have bought the first community responder vehicle in the county to help react to medical emergencies.

The Faringdon and District 41 Club raised £7,000 from the town’s fireworks display and bonfire event in 2007.

The six first responder volunteers in Faringdon, plus members of the community, helped to raise an additional £3,000.

On Saturday, 41 Club chairman Richard Bell handed over the keys of the van to first responder Godfrey Smith.

Mr Bell, 61, said: “So many people do not know what a first responder is until they have an emergency.

“They’re so important and have saved many lives.”

Community responders have covered Faringdon and nearby villages for the past six years.

They are part of about 40 schemes in Oxfordshire whose members have been trained by the South Central Ambulance Service to attend certain types of emergency calls in rural areas.

They attend life-threatening incidents and provide initial first aid to a casualty until an ambulance arrives.

For the past six years, volunteers have used their own cars to attend calls.

Using their van means they can carry more medical equipment and be in radio contact with ambulance staff.

Mr Smith, 60, of Jespers Hill, said: “This is brilliant and the people of Faringdon and the surrounding areas have been amazing. Having this vehicle will make a big difference to the work we do.”