A TAXI driver has been hailed a hero by the wife of a man who suffered a medical episode in the street.

Cabbie of 14 years Brian White was driving down Schneider Road having picked up a fare from Romney Road when he saw an elderly man collapse on the pavement close to Dutton's Newsagents.

He pulled over in his Volkswagen cab and raced to the man's aid. Suspecting the man was inebriated, he quickly dropped his customer off, having asked a passer-by to wait with the man, and then returned to the scene.

"Someone said he lived in Hartington Street so I thought I'll take him home," Mr White said.

"I set off, started driving down Wilkie Road towards Holker Street, and something didn't seem right. At first I thought he was a bit drunk but he was acting strangely and I thought 'I need to get this guy to the hospital'."

Mr White, who works for Barrow firm A1, turned around and drove up Abbey Road to Furness General Hospital where he ran inside A&E to ask a nurse to come and help him.

The man had suffered a medical episode while on his way to collect his daily newspaper and Mr White's quick actions meant medics could give the patient immediate treatment which can minimise the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

As well as taking the man to hospital, Mr White also secured the man's car which had been left unlocked at the side of the road, and removed any visible valuables which he handed over to paramedics.

The patient's wife has since tracked down the firm Mr White works for and sent him a thank you card for saving her husband's life.

Accompanied by a gift card, Mrs Leith's card said: "I would like to thank you most sincerely for your kind actions in helping my husband.

"He is doing well in hospital. Your intervention not only saved his life but may have saved the lives of others. Please accept this small token of our appreciation."