RESIDENTS in part of the New Forest are being invited to take advantage of a scheme that could save their life in an emergency.

Totton has become the latest Hampshire town to benefit from Message in a Bottle, a Lions Club initiative launched to help vulnerable people who live alone.

Residents taking part in the project are given small plastic bottles in which to store vital data, including their name and medical history.

The scheme aims to ensure that paramedics called to the home of someone rendered unconscious by a fire, accident or sudden illness are provided with all the information they need.

Householders are advised to store the bottles in their fridge, where the contents are more likely to survive a fire.

Two small Green Cross labels - one inside their front door and one on the fridge door - tell rescuers that the resident is in the scheme and where to find the bottle.

The Totton scheme was launched by members of Totton and Eling Lions Club, who have 2,500 bottles to give away.

Lions spokesman Richard Wilson-Smith said: "It's a brilliant scheme that will save a lot of lives.

"It will also save the emergency services a total of 18 hours' work. Without Message in a Bottle they'd have spend a lot of time finding out who the person is, who their GP is and where their next of kin live."

The bottles are available from pharmacies, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators and doctors' surgeries.