THEY'VE saved the life of a three-month-old baby, a 103-year- old woman, and plenty in between.

Now, a pioneering team in Gower has another reason to celebrate — it's their 10th anniversary.

The 14 part-time firefighters of Reynoldston Fire Service were the first in Wales to become fire service co-responders, meaning they'd been trained by experts from the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Since 1998, the team has used defibrillators — electric shock machines — and oxygen equipment to carry out cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

They provide a quick response to nearby emergencies that could have to wait some time for help to come because of the rural nature of Gower.

Watch manager Adrian Hughes reckoned it had saved around 70 lives.

"We attended an elderly lady, aged 103, and we resuscitated a three-month-old baby who had a chest infection and stopped breathing," he said.

"She celebrated her fifth birthday recently, and her grandmother brought some pictures of her party along for us to see — that was great."

Mr Hughes explained how the service got off the ground. "We had been approached by some members of the community, including the late Wendy Cooper, who was involved with the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

"The Welsh Ambulance Service was keen to set up a co-responder scheme, and we were delighted to be involved.

"We are actually the second in the UK. We're still going strong and it has worked very well."

The team's co-responders use a Land Rover to accompany the fire engine in serious emergencies.

Mr Hughes, who received the MBE for his services to the community in 2005, reckons that over the 10 years they have dealt with more than 1,500 calls.

The 14 part-time firemen have day jobs in and around Reynoldston as farmers, plumbers, carpenters and engineers.

They also run a Heartstart scheme, training members of the public in basic life support, and in how to recognise the early signs of heart attacks and strokes.