A new drug which can help to stem bleeding is to be used by paramedics in the South West for the first time.

Tranexamic acid has never been used by civilian paramedics before, but new research from the Peninsula medical school has found it can reduce the risk of death from bleeding by as much as thirty per cent.

It will cost just over three pounds per patient, which is signifcantly cheaper than many other drugs.

It has previously only been used in operating theatres or in military environments like Afghanistan.