A POTENTIALLY life-saving pack has been placed at a village venue where it will be available 24 hours to local residents.

Grays-based members of the 'Vibes Not Lives' group have funded and donated a 'bleed kit' that can be used as an emergency response to someone being stabbed or badly cut.

It is being kept at the Merrie Loots Farm Rest Home on East Tilbury Road, Linford, SS17 0QS (01375 673178), where 24-hour staff look after it and are able to dispense it at any time of the day or night.

'Vibes Not Lives' is a nationwide charity with local groups dedicated to focussing on combatting knife crime and promoting community safety.

Local spokesperson Emma Kerr says: "Our mission is to raise awareness about the impact of violence and provide essential resources, including bleed kits, to save lives in critical situations.

"In Thurrock we are a local family-orientated group who strive to build a safer environment for our children and grandchildren.

"Through fundraising, education, and community engagement, we aim to create a safer, more vibrant future for all. Join us in transforming lives and spreading positive vibes, one step at a time. 

"A key thing we can do is try and save lives in emergency situations by providing bleed kits. These can be used to suppress bleeding when someone has been stabbed or cut and fill the gap between something happening and the arrival of emergency services – a gap that can sometimes be critical.

"So, we aim to place bleed kits at places across the borough where they can be accessed. A call to 999 will let you know where your nearest kit is

"We also teach young individuals the consequences of purchasing or carrying knives.

"Vibes Not Lives locally is sponsored by Lemzstudios based in Tilbury who are very keen to support this cause, and will give anyone the chance to show their potential and to become a valued member of society.

"With residents' support 'Vibes Not Lives' can make Tilbury and all surrounding areas a safer place. Please check out our Go Fund me Page."

Cassie Johnson is Deputy Manager at Merrie Loots and said: "We are delighted to support this. Vecasue of what we do here for our residents we are open 24/7, 365 days a year and staff are always on hand. So if anyone needs the kit in the local area urgently, they can come to us and is is there for use.

"We are so pleased to support such a good cause and while we hope there is never any need to use the kit, it is there in the Linford and East Tilbury area for anyone."

Accepting the kit on behalf of the local community, ward councillor Sue Sammons said: "I think this is a wonderful idea. Hopefully it will never be needed but if it is, in an isolated area like East Tilbury and Linford, it could be the difference between life or death. I would like to thank 'Vibes Not Lives', Lemzstudios and Merrie Loots for what they have done."