Commuters are to be given life-saving lessons about how to cope if a fellow traveller suffers a heart attack.

In the South-East, there were several instances in the run-up to Christmas when passengers on crowded trains or buses collapsed.

One passenger on the Brighton line, a man in his 50s, died during the morning rush-hour while making the journey to London Bridge.

The incident prompted commuter group Brighton Line Commuters to bring forward courses it was planning with the Brighton-based Heart Guard.

Heart Guard was set up in 1978 by Douglas Chamberlain, a heart consultant at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Experts have given demonstrations to more than 85,000 people nationwide about what to do in the vital minutes following someone's heart attack.

Shelley Atlas, chairwoman of Brighton Line Commuters, said: "We were in the process of organising more courses but the incident before Christmas prompted us to bring them forward.

"The courses will be tailored towards rail travellers. There are certain things to do and not to do when faced with someone collapsing on a train.

"For instance, you should never pull the communication cord as it could lead to the train stopping between stations, making it difficult for an ambulance to get to them."

John May, the administrator for the Heart Guard courses, said: "We are hoping to put defibrillators at stations along the Brighton line so if someone suffers a heart attack, help in the minutes after the attack will be available.

"Although we are targeting commuters and rail travellers, everyone is welcome to come along.

"Anyone who is out and about in a public place could suddenly be faced with someone collapsing.

"A couple of hours' tuition could help save someone's life and it could be a person who is very close to you. It could be a colleague at work or someone in your home."

The courses will be run every Saturday in March, April and May, at 10am, at the Heart Guard offices at Sussex House, Abbey Road, Brighton.

Call 01273 676439.