A local community centre has been awarded a grant to buy a highly-wanted defibrillator.

South Swindon Parish Council awarded Christ Church Community Centre a grant of £1,000 which has contributed to the installation of a new defibrillator.

The defibrillator was installed on Monday 17th October and on Tuesday morning Chair of the Parish Chris Watts met with Chris Smith, the Christ Church Community Centre Manager, and Margaret Williams, a local resident who asked for a defibrillator to be installed.

Mrs Williams has attended Christ Church since 1955, and is the one who originally asked for a defibrillator.

She said: “This is a good investment for the church and the community. So many people come and go through the church during the week so it’s great to have one here that is so accessible to the public.”

The nearest publicly accessible defibrillator is at the Co-op on Newport Street. The installation of a new defibrillator provides a lifesaving device in closer proximity to a busy public centre.

Chris Smith, Christ Church Community Centre Development Manager: “We have had a defibrillator in the plans for 5 years now. The church is very busy all the time with different groups of people, with most of them being of the older generation and more at risk of cardiac arrest. Accidents happen and it’s great to have this equipment in place for when the event happens.”