BLACKBURN with Darwen’s main Lions club has taken over the life-saving ‘Message in a Bottle’ scheme from the borough’s Care Trust Plus.

Under the free scheme, patients with long-term health conditions write personal and medical details on a piece of paper and put it inside a special container which they store in their fridge for police officers, ambulance crew or fire fighters to find in an emergency.

It was transferred to the Regent Lions Club on Saturday at a special event in Blackburn town centre.

Borough public health director Dominic Harrison said: “We are delighted that this important scheme will be kept going in Blackburn with Darwen by the Regent Lions Club and extremely grateful to them for taking it on.”

Lions president Alan Dean said: “We are aware of the difference Message in a Bottle has on the lives of people with a longstanding illness, the elderly or vulnerable and the peace of mind it gives to those who care for them.”