A pensioner has thanked a group of teenagers who came his aid after he suffered a medical emergency in Worcester city centre.

The teens, believed to be 17 or 18, rushed to give first aid to John Roberts, aged 77, after he began to bleed profusely from his arm while shopping near Argos, in the Shambles.

Mr Roberts, of Guildford Close, Ronkswood, suffers from Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and the bleeding was linked to his condition.

The pensioner, who attends dialysis appointments three times a week, said: "I am just so grateful to the girls for helping me."

Carole, his wife of 52-years, said she had gone to buy groceries from a nearby shop when she saw crowds of young people at the top of the street.

The 69-year-old said: "I had left John with the shopping bags and I had stopped to talk to the young chap I often see, who is homeless, and I had given him some raspberries.

"I then saw all these people helping John. There was a girl with a first aid kit she was only about 17 or 18.

"She was cleaning up the blood with a medical wipe –they were so caring and helpful, it was like they were nurses. There were about 14 students.

"I asked if she had any training but she didn’t say she did. She said she always carries a first aid kit.

"I want to thank them and say how we appreciate what they have done.

"I was always saying how young people don't care about the elderly and have no respect but then you look at it the other way, so I want to say thank you very much - it could have been 10 times worse.

"He did not have any bandages with him and the blood would have kept on running down his arm - we would have had to call an ambulance to take him to Worcestershire Royal."

The group told Mrs Roberts they were taking part in the National Citizen Service at 'Worcester College'.

The bleed comes three weeks after Mr Roberts had an operation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to reduce the size of a mass on his arm caused by his kidney fistula, a connection from a vein in his arm to his main heart artery to aid his dialysis.

Due to his condition, Mr Roberts, who worked at Heenan Coolers in Worcester for 30 years, is unable to take holidays and has to undergo regular dialysis at Worcester Dialysis Unit in McKenzie Way, off Tolladine Road.

Mr Roberts had been looking for a birthday card for his wife at the time of bleed.

Are you one of the teens involved or do you know who they are? Please contact Liz Sharpe by calling 01905 742253 or emailing esh@worcesternews.co.uk