LIFESAVING equipment has been installed in a leisure centre after two local charities joined forces with the British Heart Foundation.

Bedale Leisure Centre has taken delivery of a £2,000 defibrillator. Hambleton Leisure Centre, in Northallerton, and Thirsk Swimming Pool already have similar equipment.

The Bedale machine has been funded by the British Heart Foundation, Bedale Welfare Charity and the Mowbray Rotary Club.

Leisure centre manager Fiona Hughes said: "It is comforting to know we now have such a valuable piece of equipment at the pool. We are very grateful to the three charities that provided it."

Chairman of the Northallerton and Thirsk branch of the British Heart Foundation Ken Billings said: "Statistics show that in order to survive a heart attack, a shock is needed within eight minutes.

"These machines can help save lives. When used by first-aiders, they give heart attack patients a fighting chance of survival.

"They will be in the best possible shape for when paramedics arrive on the scene."