Two good Samaritans who acted quickly when an elderly man collapsed in the centre of Burgess Hill yesterday are being asked to contact the ambulance service.

Medics want to trace the women, who disappeared when crews took over, saying they gave the heart attack victim in St John's Road a better chance of survival.

The man, in his 70s, is in a critical condition at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath.

The women, thought to be in their 30s, were expertly giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage when motorcycle paramedic and ambulance crews arrived just after 10.30am.

Paramedic Trevor Whiteside said: "They knew exactly what they were doing and may have been nurses.

"They were doing so well that I told them to continue when I arrived while I set up the defibrillator.

"They definitely helped prolong this man's life. When we took over the two women left the scene and we did not have a chance to say thank you for a job well done.

"We were obviously concentrating on the patient and did not get a chance to get the details of the women.

"They did every right. We also would like to get in touch with the clergyman who was on the scene."

The women can call Sussex Ambulance Service on 01273 897811.