THREE new defibrillators worth almost £4,000 have been installed in Buckland and Milber, Newton Abbot.

The lifesaving machines, which cost £1,300 each and require no training to operate, have been funded by Newton Abbot Hospital League of Friends.

They are located at Chesters Cafe in Haldon Rise, Shaldon Road Methodist Church in Moorland View and St Luke’s Church, Laburnum Road.

Available 24 hours a day, their purchase brings the total number of defibrillators in the area to four with one already in place at The Buckland Centre for the past five years.

Their need was identified by Cllr Mike Ryan of Newton Abbot Town Council.

He said: ‘I learned some time ago that if the nearest defibrillator is more than about 400 yards away then it might be too far to help someone’s life being saved.

‘I tried several ways to get more but without success, so I approached Dan Osborne of the Jay’s Aim charity which supplies the devices and learned that the three would cost £3,900.

‘I suggested that the Newton Abbot Hospital League of Friends, of which I’m president, might consider helping out and so Dan wrote to the League and I’m very pleased to say that the committee agreed to fully fund all three.

‘Having four nearby each other makes Buckland and Milber a much safer place for anyone experiencing a cardiac emergency so I’m delighted that they’re now in place and operational.’

Although the devices, which deliver an electric charge to the patient’s chest, require no training to use, Cllr Ryan is none the less arranging a free session for anyone who wants to familiarise themselves with the equipment.

It is due to take place at 3pm on April 6, the venue to be announced on the Town Council website in due course.

‘We’ll advertise where the session is taking place once we’ve secured the space and hopefully plenty of people will attend,’ said Cllr Ryan.

‘I’m over the moon that the defibrillators are now in place and if they save just one life then it’s been worth all the effort and every penny spent.’