A £5,000 donation will help St John Ambulance volunteers keep south Wiltshire safe.

The first aid charity was successful in a bid for funds from the Salisbury Independent Hospital Trust.

The money will be spent on a portable first aid post, including shelters and life saving equipment that can be used at local events, or rapidly deployed in an emergency.

"As an organisation with a 140-year history of delivering first aid - including during two World Wars and other times of crisis – this generous donation will help us prepare for 21st century emergencies," said St John Ambulance’s Wiltshire-based fundraising coordinator, Kevin Dickens.

"The ability to rapidly respond to a major incident, get volunteers to the front line, and set up a first aid post to help injured people, within a very short time frame, is crucial."

St John Ambulance has 35 volunteers in the Salisbury area.

The charity’s bid to the Salisbury Independent Hospital Trust is the first in a fundraising initiative to establish emergency first aid posts at strategic locations across the South West.

Mr Dickens said: "Even if we never face an emergency situation in the Salisbury area – and we hope that we never will – all of the materials and equipment can be used by our volunteers while they are on duty, providing first aid cover at events, and they will be updated and replenished so that we are ready for any situation where our life saving skills are required."

John Carvell, the chairman of Salisbury Independent Hospital Trust, added: "The aim of the trust is to aid the relief of suffering of the people of Salisbury and we are proud to support St John Ambulance who give unstinting support to the community at all levels."

For more information about St John Ambulance go to sja.org.uk or call 08700 10 49 50.