I AM writing in response to an article about the opening of a new first-aid training centre in York (June 21).

The article quotes Claire Adrian saying there is no dedicated first-aid centre in York.

This is not true.

St John Ambulance, North Yorkshire and Teesside, has been providing first-aid training for businesses and employees in York for the last 20 years.

St John is Britain's market leader in training first-aid for the workplace. In fact, St John's first-aid courses are the most popular in the county.

St John has five first-aid training centres based in York, Harrogate, Scarborough, Middlesbrough and Thirsk.

More than half a million people are trained in first-aid by St John every year.

In York, we deliver training from our own premises at Clifton Moor, as well as offering a personalised service on site to larger organisations in and around the city.

Our most popular first-aid courses are approved to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) standards to ensure they are of high-quality, convenient and offer excellent value for money.

All our students receive a St John Ambulance certificate upon successful completion of the course with its own unique HSE number.

St John has a long history and a proven track record of providing first-aid training in and around the York area and supporting the community with first-aid education and awareness.

John Walsh,

Chief executive officer,

St John Ambulance North Yorkshire & Teesside,

Lumley Close,

Thirsk Industrial Park,

Thirsk.

Updated: 16:18 Friday, June 25, 2004