A new public access defibrillator has been installed at Hey St John Church in Lees and is now available for community use around the clock.

The device on Stamford Road replaces a previous unit that had reached the end of its service life because replacement components were no longer available. Defibrillators require new pads and batteries before their expiry dates to remain functional.

The new defibrillator was funded by Liberal Democrat councillors Alicia Marland, Sam Al Hamdani and Mark Kenyon. Councillor Alicia Marland said the church warden had reached out for support when the old device's pads expired.

"These are costly medical devices so it was important to financially support the church on this project as it is such an invaluable piece of kit in any community," she said. "Knowing where your nearest defibrillator is located is vital as every second counts when a cardiac arrest has happened and early intervention significantly increases a person's chances of survival."

The device is designed to be used without formal training. Once opened, it provides voice and visual instructions to guide a user through an emergency response.

People can find the location of their nearest public access defibrillator by visiting defibfinder.uk.