HELP was quickly at hand for a pensioner who collapsed in a Yorkshire Dales hotel.

Margaret Carey, 74, was celebrating her husband's birthday at the Wheatsheaf in Carperby, near Leyburn, when she fainted at the bar.

The pub is 27 miles from the nearest hospital.

But luckily for Mrs Carey, landlord Paul Mitchell is a trained community responder.

Mr Mitchell said: "Mrs Carey was lying on the floor and appeared to be unconscious, but then she spoke so I told her the ambulance was on the way and gave her some oxygen.

"By this time, paramedic Ken Nicholas, who lives nearby, had arrived and checked her over.

"The ambulance arrived and she was taken to the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and was later discharged and returned to the hotel."

Mr Mitchell has been a community responder since January.

He is one of 11 in the area.

Paramedic Mr Nicholas said: "This incident shows that when the local community works together there is the potential to make a valuable difference when someone requires urgent help."

Anyone in the Aysgarth or Carperby area willing to volunteer as a community responder can call Mr Nicholas on (01969) 663601.