A man who saved two lives in three days has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Matt Martin, 38, from Harpenden, is one of more than 50 finalists in the annual St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes awards.

These are given to people who have shown extraordinary courage and commitment to saving lives.

Mr Martin said: "I just did what I had to do. I was so glad I had to skills to help. First aid is such an important skill."

The drama for Mr Martin started in December last year when he had taken his colleagues for Christmas lunch in a remote country pub.

Mr Martin, a Harpenden property developer, heard someone shouting for help and, leaving the table, he saw an elderly woman who was choking on a piece of steak.

The woman started to turn blue and stopped breathing but fortunately abdominal thrusts freed the obstruction in her throat and she started breathing spontaneously again.

Mr Martin helped clear the woman's mouth and placed her in the recovery position while waiting for an ambulance.

Only two days later, Mr Martin was at a clay pigeon shoot when a man was taken ill with a suspected heart attack. Once again, Mr Martin used the skills he had learned on a basic first aid course to treat him until paramedics arrived.

Mr Martin said of the incidents: "I’m just so pleased that everything I had learnt was still fresh in my mind and that I was able to offer help on both occasions. Without doubt, saving someone’s life is one of my proudest achievements."

He added: “Having been in a situation where knowing these skills has saved the life of someone who means the world to me, I simply can’t stress enough how important it is to learn first aid.

"If I hadn’t known what to do, goodness knows what the outcome may have been.”

The awards ceremony takes place in September in London.