FORMER Bewdley mayor Paul Gittins MBE has been named as a finalist of a prestigious national competition to recognise the heroic actions of ordinary people.

Mr Gittins has been shortlisted as one of 50 finalists at the annual St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards, taking up a place on the Community Hero Award category.

The category recognises individuals who are promoting or using first aid to benefit their local community, with the 69-year-old nominated for his work as a Community First Responder.

Over the past 14 years in the volunteer role, he has dealt with over 4,000 incidents, helping to save countless lives through extraordinary courage and unwavering commitment.

He said: "Although surprised, I was very pleased to have been nominated and selected as a finalist for the St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes awards.

"I do not consider myself a hero however, I am very pleased that the valuable work of Community First Responders with the ambulance service has been recognised in this way."

Presenter and musician Myleene Klass, who saved her own daughter from choking using first aid, will present the star-studded awards show in London on September 7.

She said: "I feel very privileged to be hosting the St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes awards as I know from personal experience how scary it is when you’re faced with a first aid emergency.

"My own daughter choked when she was just a baby, and I really believe because of the first aid training I'd had, I was able to save her life.?

"I’m looking forward to meeting all of the inspiring finalists and hearing their stories. It’s going be an incredible evening."

The award show, which is supported by Laerdal Medical and St John Ambulance, celebrates ordinary people who have taken extraordinary heroic actions to help someone in need.

Sue Killen, CEO at St John Ambulance, said: "Everyday Heroes is the very essence of what St John Ambulance is about – ordinary people doing extraordinary things through first aid.

"We believe that no one should suffer for a lack of first aid, and the actions of our finalists prove that first aid really can be the difference between life and death.’

Steve Overton, Managing Director of Laerdal UK, added: "To hear these amazing stories of everyday heroes who have acted bravely in difficult circumstances is an inspiration to us all and truly shows that we can save people from dying unnecessarily, a vision that Laerdal shares with St John Ambulance."

For more information about the awards or to buy tickets to the event at Grange St Paul’s in London, visit sja.org.uk/everydayheroes.