Residents are being offered a final chance to learn first aid for free.

St John Ambulance is running two final community training courses in Halstead in the coming weeks as a three year programme, funded by the Big Lottery, draws to a close.

The courses, which are open to those living in Halstead and neighbouring areas, will be held at the charity’s training centre in Fenn Road, Halstead, from 7pm to 10pm on March 27 and April 3.

Participants will learn about dealing with an unconscious casualty, resuscitation, coping with severe bleeding, treating someone with severe chest pains and how to treat someone who’s choking.

St John Ambulance is optimistic it will have achieved its target of providing free training to 3,000 residents by the end of the courses.

Training has also been given to 1,219 school pupils.

For more information or to book a place on the latest courses, call 01245 291301 or email east-training@sja.org.uk quoting ‘free Halstead training’.