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A fire service has installed specialist kits designed to save the lives of stab victims outside all 17 of its fire stations.

The bleed control kits contain bandages and gauzes which can help provide emergency first aid to someone suffering from a life-threatening wound.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service worked with the Connor Brown Trust charity to introduce the kits and raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime.

The trust was set up in memory of Connor Brown, who died after he was stabbed in Sunderland, aged 18, in 2019.

'Familiarity is vital'

The kits were previously installed at four locations on Wearside as part of a pilot scheme.

Dave Leach, a fire service area manager, said: "All local fire stations are recognised as safe havens in the local community and are available for the public to access at their time of need.

"After the completion of the initial pilot the remaining 13 stations have now been fitted with the kits over the past few weeks."

Tanya Brown, Connor's mother and the founder and director of the Connor Brown Trust, said: "We lost Connor to knife crime as he sustained multiple injuries in the attack.

"Bleed kits can make all the difference to someone with a catastrophic bleed."

Mrs Brown added that most people know where their closest fire station is and that "familiarity is vital for the public when they need to locate the closest bleed kit".

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