THIRTY-ONE Richmondshire parishes have installed defibrillators thanks to a large sum of grant aid.

The district council made the instalment possible following a shared cash handout of almost £30,000.

Richmond, Leyburn and Middleton Tyas are among the parishes that now house the machine which have been put in place with guidance and training from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Trust spokesman Paul Stevens said: “Having easy access to a defibrillator means that immediate life-saving care can be provided in an emergency situation, such as cardiac arrest, in the vital minutes before the ambulance arrives."

Any parish or town council or community organisation wanting to install a defibrillator should contact samantha.coultish@richmondshire.gov.uk, 01748-901037 or Chloe Lewis on chloe.lewis@richmondshire.gov.uk, 01748-901038.

Funding is still available through the Richmondshire Area Partnerships funding scheme before t September 1.