A Southend church minister experienced the life-saving expertise of the mobile stroke ambulance team first-hand - and says it must stay.

Nola Hoggard was suddenly taken ill in July.

She said: “I was going downstairs to open the church for mums and tots when I felt strange and thought I was having a stroke. My husband dialled 999 and Professor Iris Grunwald, a consultant and a nurse practitioner arrived in about 15 minutes.

“I had a brain scan on the ambulance and was taken to hospital where I immediately had another scan. They said they didn’t think I’d had a stroke but I had outpatient appointments and was discharged a month ago.”

Speed is vital when dealing with strokes, saving people from permanent disability and even death.

Mrs Gooding, 57, minister at the Southend Evangelical Church, added: “If I had been having a stroke it would have made the difference.

“It looked like a stroke and the speed they responded was fantastic.

“This is a vital service which they need to keep.”