SHOPPING centre staff have been trained to offer emergency first aid to ease the pressure on paramedics.

Stewart Aungier, Chris Royal and Danny Slade, who all work for Basildon’s Eastgate Centre, will be first on the scene if shoppers fall ill.

They have been trained up by the East of England Ambulance Service to become first responders, covering the shopping complex and entire town centre.

Soft services manager Mr Aungier, 36, of Overton drive, Benfleet, said: “We will be here to help with all sorts of emergencies.

“If someone has a heart attack, the quicker you can get a defibrillator on someone the higher their chance of recovery.

“So having someone trained to use them is very important.”

The trio have yet to put their new training into practice but hope their new skills - learnt on an intensive course run by the ambulance service - will help them cope when a customer’s life is at risk.

Mr Royal, 36, of Stebbings, Laindon, is a security supervisor at the centre.

He said: “We will have a line from the ambulance service so if someone phones with an emergency they then call us and we can attend an emergency.

“We were already first aid trained but we have learnt even more important skills during our training.

“It’s quite an important role and the training has given me more confidence.”

The trio all hope their new roles will make the shopping centre an even safer place for people to visit.

Security officer Mr Slade, 36, from Canvey, said: “It’s amazing being in the position to maybe be able to save someone’s life and to represent the Eastgate Centre.

“I’m a bit nervous but really looking forward to getting started. I’m really confident as the training was amazing.”

Mr Aungier added: “If we even manage to save one life the training will all be worthwhile.”

The new training is all part of the centre’s work to increase the safety for shoppers.

Mike Horton, head of marketing at the Eastgate Centre, said: “It’s part of our commitment to Basildon town centre.

“It’s all going towards the shops and making the town centre safer and better for people to visit.

“We had first responders years ago but they have moved on.

“It’s an important role, you never know when they might be needed.”