FREE first aid training sessions have been offered by Burnley Council.

Teaming up with the North West Ambulance Service, the 'Heartstart' courses will give people the skills and the know how to help save someone's life in an emergency.

People on the course will learn how to deal with an unconscious person, signs and symptoms of a heart attack, recognising a cardiac arrest and performing CPR, using a defibrillator, dealing with choking and serious bleeding.

Mike Waite, from the council’s community engagement team, said: "These first aid training sessions are a great way of refreshing existing skills, but are also suited for people who have never attended a first aid training course, they are free and really worthwhile."

Burnley Council has installed defibrillators in its main buildings, as well as in the town centre pedestrianised area outside McDonald’s and Marks and Spencer.

The device gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall of someone who is in cardiac arrest.

This high energy shock is called defibrillation.

The first course will take place at the Prairie Sports Village in Windermere Avenue, Burnley, between 6pm and 8pm.

For more information about the courses or to book, visit www.burnleycouncil.eventbrite.com.