The generosity of a Lowestoft-based packaging company has given a boost to promoting a potentially life-saving service.

For many years, numerous Lions Clubs across the country have highlighted the importance of the Message in a Bottle health initiative, to aid emergency services.

Recently Lions club member, Paul Maye, contacted Saxon Packaging Ltd in Harvest Drive, Lowestoft, to discuss the possibility of producing a small display unit to promote the club's Message in a Bottle containers.

Mr Maye said: 'The small plastic bottles containing vital information are an effective way to keep basic personal and medical details where they can easily be found in an emergency – in the fridge! But we identified a need to have an attractive display in which to show the bottles – to both promote the scheme and to make them even more readily available,' he added.

'The positive response that we received from Saxon Packaging was terrific. Technical and design manager Ben Watson immediately agreed to help us and he offered to create the artwork, to design and manufacture the display units.'

With design input from marketing executive Suzy Harrold, the pair produced the bespoke displays, which are made from robust corrugated cardboard, digitally printed and cut using computer aided design equipment.

Mr Maye added: 'We are really pleased with the initial batch of display units, each of which will hold 15 bottles and which have been produced free of charge by Saxon Packaging. The displays are really eye catching.'

Mr Watson said: 'As a local company, which has been established for almost 30 years, we were pleased to be able to help and support this initiative and to raise further awareness of a very worthwhile scheme.'

Mr Maye added that the display boxes for the Message in a Bottle scheme have now been distributed to all but one of the doctors surgeries in Lowestoft.

He said: 'The seven paramedic cars that operate locally will also now carry a supply of the bottles to give to patients they attend. Since distributing the boxes, the surgeries have distributed more than 600 bottles to patients.'

? For further information contact Lowestoft Lions on 0845 833 5737.

? Have you got a Lowestoft story? Email mark.boggis@archant.co.uk