People in Lowestoft have the chance to learn lifesaving CPR for free - as there are still 100 places to fill at our ‘Learn to be a Lifesaver’ session in the town.

As part of the joint campaign with BBC Radio Suffolk, the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star are setting up venues across Suffolk where people can learn the important skills at no cost, with the hope of increasing the number of lifesavers across the county.

Venues have been set up in Lowestoft, Ipswich, Sudbury, Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Felixstowe - and there are plenty of places up for grabs.

Around 100 places are still on offer at the Lowestoft session on Sunday, March 17 at the Marshall Arts Studio at Waterlane Leisure Centre.

The room has been kindly donated by the centre and the sessions are being taken by trained volunteers under the guidance of Nigel Donkin at the British heart Foundation and the East of England Ambulance.

Mr Donkin said the campaign would give more people in the county the confidence to come to someone’s aid.

He said: “It is about taking away that fear of getting involved – that is such a big element to it.

“People worry they would do it wrong or do not know what they are doing.

“To break down these taboos and barriers is brilliant.

“We have heard some great stories of people that have been saved because someone has stepped in at the right moment.

“But not all of these people have been trained to save lives.

“It is about giving people the confidence to come to someone’s aid.”

Dr Jeremy Mauger, who volunteers with Suffolk Accident and Rescue Service, has spoken of how vital it is people know how to do CPR if someone collapses through a heart attack.

He said that the current survival rate for someone who has a cardiac arrest in the street is less than one in 10 - but if someone administers CPR, their chances rise by five times.

“I go to cardiac arrests every week,” he said.

“Overwhelmingly the people that survive are the ones helped by bystander CPR.”

If you would like to attend one of our Learn to be a Lifesaver training events email Suffolk.cpr@bbc.co.uk giving your name, the venue and number of places required.

Here’s where you can learn CPR for free in Suffolk

Lowestoft – Sunday March 17 - Waterlane Leisure Centre – Marshall Arts Studio.

Sessions start at: 9.15am / 10.15am / 11.15am / 12.15pm and 1.15pm

Ipswich - Tuesday, March 5, 7pm-9pm - Fore Street Swimming Pool

Tuesday, March 12, 4pm-5pm - Ransomes Sports Pavilion

Wednesday, March 13 2.30pm-4pm - Whitton Sports Centre

Sudbury - Sunday, March 10 The Curve – Sudbury Sports Centre

Sessions start at 9.15am / 10.15am / 11.15am / 12.15pm and 1.15pm

Stowmarket - Saturday, March 16 - Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre

Sessions start at 9.15am / 10.15am / 11.15am / 12.15pm and 1.15pm

Bury St Edmunds - Saturday, March 30 - West Suffolk College Theatre

Sessions start at 9.15am / 10.15am / 11.15am and 12.15pm

Felixstowe – Sunday, April 7 - Brackenbury Sports Centre

Session start at: 9.15am / 10.15am / 11.15am / 12.15pm and 1.15pm

The Ipswich sessions are part of the borough council’s ‘Save a Life’ scheme.

For more information, go to their website.