PUPILS at two local schools were among those shown vital life saving skills as part of a national campaign.

Settle College and South Craven School in Cross Hills both had visits from qualified instructors as part of Restart a Heart Day.

The pupils were among 25,000 students from 119 schools across Yorkshire who took part in the initiative, in which they hey were shown how to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

South Craven was one of 119 schools in the county which joined-in the initiative.

Volunteer instructors from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service used an interactive DVD and manikins to demonstrate the techniques at South Craven.

"Over 30,000 people suffer cardiac arrests outside of hospital in the UK every year," said a school spokesman.

"If this happens in front of a bystander who starts CPR immediately, before the arrival of an ambulance, the patient's chances of survival double."

At Settle College, a team of 7 volunteers including paramedics from Yorkshire ambulance service, community first responders, and CPR trainers visited.

Just under 200 pupils were taught the lifesaving skill.

Gill Lambert from the school said all the children which ranged from year 11to year 13 enjoyed the session which is delivered by DVD from the British Heart Foundation.