GENEROUS pensioners in York have raised bags of cash for the city's cycling paramedic.

The group of women, who meet at St Sampson's Social Centre, in Church Street, every Tuesday, have been saving their small change for Life-Cycle paramedic Mark Inman.

Mark responds to 999 calls in his patch within the city walls on a custom-built mountain bike which is fitted with a full range of paramedic equipment.

The friends, including Betty Sharples, Carole Simms, Cath Pickersgill, Jean Kilby and Zena Tear, have donated bags of coins totalling more than £40 to Life-Cycle, which relies partially on voluntary donations.

Another member of the group, Jean Sawyer, 81, of Brockfield Park Drive, Huntington, knows first hand why the service is so vital to the city.

She was treated by Mark after suffering cuts and bruising when she fell over in Newgate Market.

Since Life-Cycle was launched 20 months ago Mark has attended about 1,500 emergency calls, arriving first on the scene virtually 100 per cent of the time, and allowing ambulances to attend other emergencies.

He has covered more than 7,300 miles and his average response time is between two and three minutes.

Updated: 09:46 Thursday, December 12, 2002