Hundreds of people have signed up for first aid training thanks to a life-saving campaign by a regional daily.

The Derby Telegraph launched its Save a Life drive in October, running 50pc off vouchers in the paper offering people classes with St John Ambulance for the discount price of £10.

It comes after the Telegraph celebrated success in a campaign earlier this year to get 500 new blood donors signed up in two months, smashing their target with 753 people coming forward to give blood for the first time.

More than 400 people have since cashed in their voucher and Telegraph editor Neil White said he was very impressed with the response.

Said Neil:  “I’m so proud of our readers for taking this opportunity to get involved with our campaign and I truly hope their new first-aid skills can make a difference in the real world, should they ever need to use them.”

Since the launch of the campaign, the Telegraph has featured regular stories about people whose lives have been saved by first aid, and about others who have used their training to help someone in trouble.

Save a Life is also still encouraging people to give blood and to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Chris Thornton, regional director at St John Ambulance, thanked the paper for the campaign and for raising awareness.

“We are delighted so many people have taken this opportunity to equip themselves with the skills to save a life,” he said.

“Basic first aid can often be the difference between a life lost and a life saved so, by signing up for this course, members of the public are helping to make Derbyshire a safer place.

“We want to thank the Derby Telegraph for their help and support to get the message out there.”