Year six schoolchildren Robert Flowers and Caitlin Kenzie presented Helen Lee, IMPS co-ordinator on the Countess of Chester Health Park, with the cheque during the school's assembly.

IMPS, which is supported by St John Ambulance in Cheshire, delivers free training in essential first aid and accident prevention to more than 3,000 local year six schoolchildren each year.

Specifically, children are taught basic life support including CPR and the recovery position. They watch an accident prevention video which covers how to deal with burns, electrocution, bleeding, fractures and choking. They also go on a familiarisation trip to the Accident and Emergency department of the Countess of Chester Hospital, an experience which can help to allay any fears children may have about visiting hospitals.

IMPS has been running since 2002 in Cheshire and has achieved stunning results – at least four of the IMPS students have used the first aid skills they acquired to help save lives in emergency situations.

Helen Lee, the Cheshire IMPS co-ordinator, said: "I was very pleased with the generous donation from Elton Primary School. I feel it is so important that Cheshire children continue to receive this vital lifesaving training.

"I would like to ask local people, schools and businesses to support the essential work provided by IMPS."

It costs £30, 000 to deliver the IMPS training each year and £8,000 is still needed to train schoolchildren in 2008. All donations large or small are welcome. Cheques should be made payable to: St John Ambulance and can be forwarded to Helen Lee, IMPS co-ordinator at St John Ambulance, Cheshire, Valley Drive, Countess of Chester Health Park, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1UA.

For details about the IMPS and St John Ambulance training courses contact Helen Lee on 01244 383407 or email helen.lee@cheshire.sja.org.uk