A TOWN council is hosting a special coffee morning where the public can also learn how to use the town's new defibrillator.

Richmond Town Council has invited Yorkshire Ambulance Service to a coffee morning on Saturday, February 18 at the town hall.

Town Clerk Heather Lawler said: "The defibrillator, which is in the Market Place on the Market Hall outer wall, is linked to the ambulance service so if any 999 calls are made regarding an incident, the caller is given a code to access the defibrillator box. An automated spoken voice gives instruction on how to use the equipment and the equipment itself picks up on whether a shock is required.

"Many villages around the area have now installed defibrillators and have community based training for residents, obviously this is a little harder in a town with greater population."

The ambulance service will be at the Mayor's Coffee Morning from 9.30am until 12.30pm to give defibrillator awareness and information.

The town council hopes to attract residents to the event so they are confident in using the equipment.