A mum-of-two is showing her support for a new first aid campaign which teaches parents how to save a choking baby’s life.

Jenny Townshend, 39, of Slewins Close, Hornchurch, is backing St John Ambulance’s new animated TV campaign, The Chokeables, after her husband saved their child’s life when he choked on a piece of paper he had ripped from his sister’s book.

She said: “I really thought he was going to die.

“Luckily my husband Nick knows first aid, but so many parents don’t which is worrying.”

St John Ambulance has revealed that 75 per cent of parents in London don’t know the correct technique for saving a baby from choking, despite it being a major fear for 52pc of parents.

But the first aid charity has launched a star-studded TV campaign to tackle this issue, featuring comedians David Walliams, Johnny Vegas, David Mitchell and actor Sir John Hurt.

The commercial shows small “chokeable” items such as a princess doll, a pen lid and a jelly baby, brought to life to explain what to do if your child is choking.

Jenny said: “It is so important to learn first aid as you never know when you might need it.

“I think the next step would be to add first aid training to the school curriculum so children will grow up with this essential life skill.”

Len Bamber, regional director of London St John Ambulance, said: “We all know how time-pressed parents are, so this film makes it as easy as possible to learn first aid – in less than 40 seconds we can all know a skill that could save a life.

“Our hope is that people watch, enjoy and share the video with their friends and family, so more of us have the confidence to act in an emergency.”

For more details on dates of first aid courses with St John Ambulance, visit sja.org.uk