LIFESAVING equipment has been installed at Coate Water Country Park and Lydiard Park.

The two defibrillators are part of a project called Save a Life Volunteering in an Emergency with the abbreviation of Salve being Latin for good health.

Salve was launched four years ago by Roddy Marshall, former lead volunteer for the British Heart Foundation, and Dr William McCrea, consultant cardiologist based at Great Western Hospital.

The lifesaving scheme is backed by Swindon Borough Council with funding for Swindon’s latest defibrillators coming in the form of a donation of £1,200 from the Rotary Club of Thamesdown.

On Thursday, the Coate Water Country Park defibrillator was unveiled and .Richard Goddard, president of the group, said: “We feel incredibly strongly about the community of Swindon and we believe the donation is supporting a great community asset.

"The aim is that it will be used to save lives but ideally we hope it is never needed – it is an incredible piece of equipment.

“”We have been incredibly proud to support healthcare in the town for the last 28 years.

"A lot of this funding has been raised through public collections, so it is actually the public, who have contributed to this.”

When it first launched, Salve’s, focused on training youngsters how to use defibrillators.

Later, a partnership was formed with South Western Ambulance Service, which saw defibrillators installed in the town.

There are 70 council staff who are trained to use the machines. although, Roddy is keen to stress that anyone could operate the equipment in a crisis.

He said: “We have planted a tree of life in the park as this could help provide life for somebody. These defibrillators can be used by anyone and that is the beauty of them.”

The campaigners want to highlight the defibrillators available in the town with improved signage.

This greater exposure is something which outgoing mayor Teresa Page is backing.

She said: “I think these defibrillators are a great thing for Swindon. All I hope is that we get more outside which are accessible 24 hours of the day.”