Free cardiac screenings for younger adults in Ardrossan will be available next month - and slots are avialable to book now.

Taking place in Whitlees Community Centre on Saturday, August 13, and available to people aged between 14 and 35, bookings opened at 4pm today (Thursday, July 21) for the screenings, organised by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

And the organisation is urging anyone interested to book their appointment quickly as spaces are limited and expected to fill quickly.

Screenings are provided as a result of donations to the John Millar Memorial Fund, which was set up by Kirsty Millar in memory of her brother, who died of an undiagnosed heart condition at the age of 35.

Dr Steven Cox, the chief executive of CRY, said: “On behalf of all of us at CRY, I would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Kirsty and everyone involved with the ongoing fundraising over the years in memory of John, which has enabled CRY’s screening team to travel up to Ardrossan on several occasions to ensure young people from the local area have the opportunity to have their hearts tested.

“I always find it so humbling that despite their own experience, bereaved families feel able to support us through such inspiring fundraising efforts - often driven by the will to prevent other parents, siblings, partners and friends from having to endure the same devastating grief as they have."

August’s appointments will be the fifth set of screenings funded through John’s memorial which has raised £25,000 since its foundation.

Screenings are intended for young people not experiencing symptoms of a heart condition such as chest pain (especially during exercise), fainting, breathlessness, dizziness, heart palpitations, and unexplained fainting (especially during exercise).

It is advised by CRY that you contact your GP if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.

CRY was founded in 1995 and has screened over 8,000 young people in Scotland alone as they try to minimise sudden deaths due to undiagnosed conditions.

Services such as a research centre and bereavement support network for people affected by the death of a young loved one due to an undiagnosed heart condition are also available through CRY.

Places for the screening can be booked at the website: www.testmyheart.org.uk

Donations to the John Millar Memorial Fund can be made here: https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/john-millar/