Seaton has received its first public-access defibrillator, thanks to the Times & Star Heart Start campaign.

The defibrillator was delivered to Firth House, in Main Road, this week.

It is stored in a secure cabinet on the outside of the building, where it can be accessed and used by any member of the public in a medical emergency.

Automated external defibrillators can be used to restart a heart after a cardiac arrest and give step-by-step instructions, meaning they can be used by anyone, whether they have had training or not.

North West Ambulance Service supplied the defibrillator, while the community raised £900 to buy the secure cabinet.

Nearly a third of the cash was raised in the village, including at events in the library.

The remaining £621 was provided by county, borough and parish councillor Celia Tibble from her county council divisional allowance, provided to spend on projects in her area.

The cabinet had been installed at Firth House with permission from Your Derwent & Solway and the parish council will look after the machine.

The Times & Star is working with Rotary on the campaign.

Although training is not required to use the machine, NWAS is planning a session in the coming weeks to show people how it works and give them more confidence to use it.

Councillor Tibble said: "I'd like to thank everyone involved in this project - the Times & Star, Rotary, NWAS, Your Derwent & Solway and especially Marie."

John Head, of Workington Rotary Club, said: "Having another defibrillator is a belt and braces step to help in an emergency.

"We hope the public will get involved in the training."

Lauren Watson, of North West Ambulance Service, said: "If someone has a cardiac arrest the quicker we can get a defibrillator to them the higher the chances of survival.

"The more public-access defibrillators we can get in the community the better."

Seaton joined the campaign after villager Marie Steele, of Derwent Bank, felt it could benefit and contacted the parish council.

Marie, 40, said: "I'm really pleased that we have got it.

"Hopefully it will never need to be used but if it is it could save a life.

"I'm very pleased that the parish council has taken it up and grateful to Your Derwent & Solway for allowing it to go on Firth House."