EMERGENCY life saving equipment has been provided to a village after a community came together to raise thousands of pounds.

Burnham Parish Council led a fundraising campaign for defibrillators to be installed in five locations across the village, and enough money has been raised for six of the potentially life saving pieces of equipment.

Five of the defibrillators have already been installed, at Burnham Park Hall, Burnham Health Centre, Burnham Beeches Cafe, the Esso petrol station in Lent Rise Road and at the Jolly Woodman Pub in Littleworth Common.

A sixth is due to be installed at the Bishop Centre retail park, subject to permission, thanks to sizeable donations from local residents, businesses and community groups.

The project was the idea of parish clerk, Sheridan Edward, who ran the Silverstone Half Marathon this year to raise funds and awareness for the project.

He said: “This project ensures that every Burnham resident is within easy reach of a defibrillator. We hope that they will never have to be used, but if the worst should happen, it is good to know that this lifesaving equipment will be at hand.

"The defibrillators compliment the vital work of the Community First Responders, on-call volunteers working with the ambulance service. If anyone would like more information about how they can become a volunteer and help saves lives, we’d very much like to hear from them.”

Donations included £3,000 from the Rotary Club of Burnham Beeches in memory of Rotarian Michael Brining, £3,000 from Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution Resilient Communities fund, and Cheryl Matthews and the Maidenhead Community First Responders for donating two of the defibrillators.

The parish council also had thanks for May's Chocolate House for a £250 donation, a £205 grant from Think! Burnham, £145 from Councillor Paul Kelly chairman's fund, as well as the host locations and individual locations.

Once all defibrillators have been installed, Burnham residents will be within a five minute round journey of a public access defibrillator.

The equipment will be available 24 hours a day, and automatically diagnose a patient's condition and, if appropriate, can deliver a shock to re-establish an effective heart rhythm.

Burnham Parish Council will be celebrating the completion of the project with a drinks reception on Monday, October 24 at 6.30pm in Burnham Park Hall in Windsor Lane.