LIFE-SAVING equipment has been fitted at a Stoke Prior football club and is being made available to the wider community.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) has been installed within a secure box at Meadow Park Football Club, which is based on pitches to the side of LG Harris brush factory.

A defibrillator is a device that could restart the heart of someone who suffers a cardiac arrest.

Meadow Park comprises of 13 teams ranging from under eights through to young adults.

Paul Hutchins, the chairman of Meadow Park football club, explained that in working as a cameraman for the BBC he had heard of many stories of heart attacks, where defibrillators could have saved lives.

Paul said: "Being in a rural area we have no cover at all.

"So I felt obliged to do something about it, especially when we are pushing these young kids and adults."

Paul managed to secure funding through Worcestershire County Council with the help of Bromsgrove South councillor Chris Bloore.

He was then able to gain more funding from the British Heart Foundation, and from local donations.

Overall £2,000 was raised to purchase the defibrillator and a secure box for it to be kept, which Paul commented was "money well spent".

In an emergency, a caller ringing 999 would be asked to follow the instructions to gain a code to access the defibrillator, then receiving help to use it.

"The defibrillator is also for the Harris brush factory that employs 400 people," Paul said.

"There are not many that can be accessed by the community - but that is how it should be.

"Hopefully it will never be used, but it may save someone's life."

Paul added that he had received training on using the machine, and was working with West Midlands Ambulance Service to ensure his other coaches and staff at the factory will also receive training.