PARAMEDICS know it as the golden hour' - the crucial 60 minutes after someone is hit by a life-threatening condition.

And, when it comes to a heart attack, early treatment really can be the difference between life and death.

With that in mind, 16 staff from shops and offices on Riverside Quay, Haverford-west, have trained and qualified to use defibrillators - machines which can restart the heart through electric shock. Two defibrillators have also been placed at Riverside Quay, at Boots and Wimpey.

Stephen Roberts, sub-divisional paramedic officer, said: "Around 30,000 people suffer a heart attack in the UK every year, one third of whom die before reaching hospital.

"The aim is to identify areas that will benefit from having people trained to use a defibrillator that can respond to victims of a cardiac arrest and deliver appropriate care until the ambulance arrives."

Riverside Shopping Centre manager Roland Keevil - one of those trained - said: "I was delighted to receive such a positive response from our tenants and staff and thanks to them we now have 16 who are fully trained to operate a defibrillator, plus we also have more who wish to be trained in the future."

Local AM Tamsin Dunwoody, said: "I think it's fantastic, especially the enthusiasm of people getting involved in a critical scheme where a few minutes can literally mean the difference between life and death.

"It's great that everyone is working together on this. It's a really good news story and shows community spirit and a willingness to learn something very important."

Both defibrillators have been provided by the Welsh Assembly in conjunction with Health Commission Wales and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. It is now hoped to extend the scheme into Haverfordwest town centre.