A charity which teaches people how to help heart attack victims says it is delighted a group it trained saved a man's life.

Brighton-based Heartguard taught staff at the Littlehampton swimming and sports centre how to use a defibrillator and give life support treatment.

The training paid off when workers leapt into action to save Dennis Joyce, who suffered a heart attack while playing a game of table tennis at the centre.

Sussex Ambulance Service paramedics say Mr Joyce would have died if it had not been for the defibrillator and the efforts of the staff.

Heartguard is a branch of the Brighton Heart Support Trust, based at Sussex House in Brighton.

It trains about 4,000 people a year in the skills of resuscitation and runs hundreds of emergency life-support training courses throughout the county every year.

The organisation was formed in 1978 and has trained more than 80,000 people since then.

It has instructors who visit schools, offices, shops, clubs, organisations and homes throughout Sussex to give two-hour training sessions.

People are taught to recognise the signs of a heart attack and how to respond.

They are also told how to recognise strokes, deal with an unconscious person and use a defibrillator to kick-start the heart.

John May, from Heartguard, said: "We were absolutely delighted when we heard what had happened at Littlehampton.

"It proves just how important training like this is. Just taking two hours out of your time could save somebody's life, as this recent incident has shown.

"We are pleased for the staff but especially for Mr Joyce and his family.

"We would urge as many people as possible to get trained because they never know when their skills may be needed."

For more information on how to become a lifesaver, call Heartguard on 01273 676439.