A housebuilder behind a 220-home development in Hartlepool is donating defibrillators to help support health services following the coronavirus outbreak.

Barratt Developments North East previously made the decision to temporarily close all of its offices and construction sites in order to protect customers, employees and the public following the Covid-19 outbreak.

This includes its site at Elwick Road in Hartlepool, which was given the green light by Hartlepool Borough Council Planning Committee in January, despite 40 objections from residents.

While construction across the North-East, is delayed, the company has decided to donate 19 defibrillators from its sites to the fight against coronavirus.

The company is donating the defibrillators, usually used on its construction sites, to St John Ambulance.

The health and first aid charity is now on the frontline supporting people and communities through coronavirus, helping to take the strain from the NHS.

Carl Sobolewski, managing director at Barratt Developments North East, said they are keen to help the community at these difficult times.

He said: “We are pleased to be able to donate this equipment where it is urgently needed – to help St John Ambulance, who are on the frontline, supporting the NHS and helping to save lives.

“We are seeing an amazing collective effort by businesses, communities and individuals in the fight against coronavirus and we want to play our part in that.

“We’re always keen to help the local community thrive, especially in times of such hardship like this.”

Donations are taking place on a national scale too, with over 400 defibrillators due to be donated to St John Ambulance from Barratt Developments.

The charity has started a nationwide appeal – called Take the Strain – to source desperately needed equipment to help it in the vital role it is playing, including 1,000 defibrillators.

Responding to the call for help, Barratt Developments has committed to donating the defibrillators from all its sites – an estimated 400 worth more than £300,000.

As part of its response to support the fight against coronavirus, Barratt Developments has also donated £100,000 to the NHS Charities Together appeal.