THREE very important numbers 977 ... they could help save a Suffolk life.The Ipswich and Norwich Co-operative Society has once again thrown its weight behind The Evening Star's Save a Life Appeal with its special community 'divi' number.

THREE very important numbers 977 ... they could help save a Suffolk life.

The Ipswich and Norwich Co-operative Society has once again thrown its weight behind The Evening Star's Save a Life Appeal with its special community 'divi' number.

From today Co-op members shopping in the Society's food stores, department stores, pharmacies and optical branches in and around Ipswich will be able to support the Star's Safe a Life fundraising drive by quoting 977 instead of their own dividend share number.

Every penny paid into this community dividend account will go towards buying vital communications equipment for the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service (SARS).

SARS are a voluntary team of doctors who work alongside the emergency service to save lives on the road or at accidents.

It is the sixth year in a row the Co-op has thrown its weight behind The Evening Star £20,000 Appeal, where every penny counts.

At the launch outside the Capel St Mary store, president Beryl Fulcher said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Suffolk Accident Rescue Service because they do such an excellent job in the community.

"We have supported then in the past through the Evening Star Appeal and are pleased to help them again. We are always thrilled with how much support our

members give to the 977 appeals in such a short space of time and hope they

will again, which I'm sure they will."

The last appeal for SARS was so successful readers raised more than £30,000 to buy hi-tech equipment such as defibrillators for the people of Suffolk.

The Save a Life appeal will buy communications packages, which includes satellite tracking for SARS doctor's cars, so ambulance control can pinpoint their exact location at any time.

Evening Star editor Nigel Pickover, thanked the Co-op for its generosity, and said:

"The Ipswich and Norwich Co-op and The Evening Star have joined together for a second time to help this vital service, which is run by doctors who voluntarily give up their time day and night to save lives in Suffolk - without a penny in return.

"Last year chairman of SARS Dr Paul Silverston was invited to The Evening Star Press Ball and in between the first course and the main course he was called out to a road accident and saved a life."

Dr Silverston said: "We are incredibly grateful for the support of The Ipswich and Norwich Co-op and its members.

"The money will be put to good use as this equipment will bring the service into the 21st century for the community.

"The equipment will do two things: it means faster communications so we can be mobilised faster. It also gives us better communications while we are on route and at the scene."

The 977 community dividend number will run alongside the Co-op's ongoing

charity 'divi' number and will earn the same rates as paid on members' own

share account.

That is three percent on purchases at Co-op Foodstores and five percent on

goods bought in Co-op Department stores, pharmacies and optical

branches.

* A DANCE in aid of cancer charities and SARS is being organised by Sandra Gardner and Keith Rodwell and not by the Institute of Motor Industry and the Institute of Road Transport Engineers as reported in the Evening Star on Thursday.

Live band Rave On will be playing at the dance which is due to take place at Gresham's (formerly Axa Sports and Social Club) in Tuddenham Road, Ipswich on December 14.

The dance is ticket only, which can be bought by calling Keith Rodwell on 01473 624538. Tickets are not available on the door.