A BUSINESSMAN has given back to the people of his town as a thank you for supporting his shop through the years.

Rob Rendle has been selling furniture from his Consett store since 1973.

He decided to give back to the people of Consett for their patronage over the years.

Mr Rendle purchased a defibrillator for the town to use, the first one to be placed in the town centre.

He got the idea after it was mentioned on a Facebook group he runs, that there was no defib available in Consett's centre.

Mr Rendle said: “The people of Consett have been very good to me over the years so this is my gift to them

"I hope it is used to save a life one day.”

The defibrillator has been fitted to the front of the store situated at number 56 Front Street Consett.

It was installed by Graham Walton of G A Walton and Son Electrical Services, who installed it free of charge.

Store manager Mark Emmerson said: “Its in a good place, a busy street with a lot of shops and pubs so if its going to get used it would be there.”