A RAPID Response Vehicle, which provides immediate life saving aid before an ambulance arrives, is having trials in Northwich and Winsford.

Trials on the 2.5 diesel Turbo Volvo have already been carried out in other areas in the country.

The scheme has seen Mersey Regional Ambulance become the first urban service in the country to exceed the Government's target of reaching 75 per cent of all life threatening calls within eight minutes.

Once the ambulance arrives, the RRV is then available to respond to the next life threatening call.

The RRV will not be based in an ambulance station but will be set specific duty hours and patrol routes to follow.

There's a satellite navigation system in the vehicle which shows a map, pinpointing where the incident has happened and telling the driver how to get there. Equipment includes a Defribulator, airway management kit, rescue stretcher, burns kit and maternity kit.