THREE new defibrillators have been installed in Lyneham thanks to funds from Lyneham and Bradenstoke parish council.

The defibrillators are in briefcase-sized boxes fixed to the wall near the Co-Op in Calne Road and near Piggy's Cafe in Lyneham, and in Church Park in Bradenstoke.

The defibrillators can be used by members of the public in an emergency if someone suffers a heart attack, and could buy vital time for victims before the emergency services can attend.

A spokesman from Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "Thanks to the Lyneham and Bradenstoke parish council there are three new PAD's in the Lyneham area.

"That briefcase-sized box on the wall contains a PAD. It's there for anyone to use on someone in cardiac arrest.

"If you come across someone who is not breathing or breathing erratically, the most important thing is to call 999 and start CPR. If you're on your own, don't interrupt the CPR to go and get a defibrillator. When you can, send someone else to find one. Once the defibrillator is open, all you have to do is follow the spoken instructions.

"I'm looking forward to more of our villages having these life saving devices installed."

The defibrillators are easy to use and don't require any training. Once in place, the machine detects the patients' heart rhythm and won't deliver a shock unless one is needed.

After a cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillation reduces someone's chance of survival by 10 per cent.

When you call 999, the operator can tell you if there's a public access defibrillator nearby.