DULVERTON firefighters will officially launch their appeal to become first responders at a special ceremony on Wednesday.

First responders are specially trained volunteers who are called on by ambulance staff to give medical support to a casualty before an ambulance arrives.

It is hoped that at least six firemen from the Dulverton station will qualify as first responders to offer quick-response care to people waiting for paramedics to arrive from either Taunton or Minehead.

Their first response vehicle is paid for by Somerset Fire Brigade and their training jointly funded by the brigade and the ambulance service.

However, each individual station has to pay for all the lifesaving equipment carried on board the response vehicle.

That could mean at least £3,500 has to be raised before the trained volunteers can leap into action - although they have been given support by Dulverton Town Council.

At their meeting on Monday, councillors agreed to donate £1,000 to the first response appeal. It will be presented at next week's launch ceremony.

Town council chairman Cllr Pat Skipper said there were hopes the unit could be up and running by the end of April.