LIFE-SAVING equipment will be more readily available across the Thirsk area thanks to a £1,000 grant.

Thirsk Community First Responders won £1,000 from the Aviva Community Fund following a public vote.

The Responders are a team of 13 volunteers who assist the Yorkshire Ambulance Service. They are trained in basic life support, how to administer oxygen and how to use a defibrillator.

The team has been going for about 15 months and the funding will go towards further defibrillators within the area.

Alison Gray, coordinator, said: “The team and myself are over the moon and very grateful that people took the time to vote for us. Thank you to Aviva for accepting us and allowing us to help our community, as thanks to them we are able to start looking at getting more defibrillators within the area.” Around 5m votes were cast nationally.