A CAMPAIGN to install defibrillators in schools is being backed by a community police team in the North-East.

Officers in West Gateshead have already seen life-saving machines installed in 11 different schools on their patch.

Now they are helping to raise enough money to get the equipment fitted at every primary school in the area.

PC Emma Bowman said: “I initially got involved and began to raise funds and awareness to get this life saving equipment in my daughters school.

“Police officers come across a number of tragic cases every single day and it is heart-breaking when a child dies.

“So when the team saw me raising money for this cause they wanted to get involved and do what they could to help in their areas.”

The team has raised £980 each set of equipment costs £650 so they have donation buckets at a number of businesses, pubs and social clubs in Ryton and Crawcrook.

Every single year as many as 270 children die in the UK after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest at school.

Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the person’s chances of survival by up to ten per cent when they go into cardiac arrest.

To help visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/defibs4schools.