A PASSION for gardening has enabled a green-fingered Tysoe resident to purchase a life-saving defibrillator for the village.

Faith Hall has sold huge amounts of vegetables from her garden and raised £600 towards the machine that is kept at the Tysoe Children's Group pre-school in the Old Fire Station.

It's location in the centre of the village makes it accessible to all residents and those using the sports field.

The community has worked hard to raise the money needed to make this possible. There have been other fundraising events held throughout 2014, contributions from village businesses and organisations and collection tins in the local shop and fundraisers were grateful to the Heartbeat UK Charity and West Midlands Ambulance Service for their support in enabling them to purchase the defibrillator at a favourable rate.

It is housed in a locked, weather-proof cabinet on the outside of the building so that it is accessible to the public at all times. In the event of an emergency a person who calls 999 will be given the code to the yellow wall mounted cabinet and have immediate access to this portable device. The defibrillator checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try and restore a normal rhythm. They are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest where the heart stops suddenly and unexpectedly.

Manager of Tysoe Children’s Group, Yvonne Dillon said: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity of housing the defibrillator on site and are grateful that we have raised enough money for the machine, the cabinet and the child-friendly pads, should there be an emergency within the centre.”

Training for the defibrillator and first aid basics will be available throughout the year, to keep the information fresh in residents’ minds.