ACCIDENT victims will be in safe hands should any mishap befall them in a village on the outskirts of Durham.

A group of 13 people in Shadforth, and one from neighbouring Ludworth, have achieved first aid qualifications, enabling them to deal with minor injuries in the work place.

Shadforth Village Community Association held an Emergency First Aid course earlier in the year in conjunction with St John Ambulance and New College, Durham, with participants receiving tuition from St John training officer Alan Campbell.

On Saturday, the 14 newly-qualified first aiders, whose ages ranged from 17 to 74, returned to Shadforth Village Hall, to receive their end of course certificates from St John's senior training officer David Lovett.

Community association committee member Kathleen Gilson said it the course may be repeated, given the success with the initial intake.