VITAL lifesaving equipment has been purchased following an extensive fundraising drive by police officers in Seaham.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team took delivery of two defibrillators earlier this month, which will be installed at strategic points around the town.

The first will be sited outside Seaham Police Station, on The Avenue, while the second is destined for the seafront area near Ray Lonsdale's World War I statue 1101, known to most as Tommy.

And more fundraising is planned to get defibrillators for other locations in the area.

PC Martin Thursfieldsaid: “Stats show that the use of a defibrillator within five minutes of a cardiac arrest can produce survival rates of u p to seventy percent, which is hugely significant.

“They’re straightforward to use and you can’t hurt anybody with them, so making them available to the community really could be the deciding factor in saving somebody’s life.”

The purchase of the defibrillators was made possible thanks to a series of fundraising events undertaken by the neighbourhood team, with the support of local partner agencies.

Over the last twelve months, officers have hosted a 5-a-side youth’s football tournament, cricket coaching sessions with coaches from Durham County Cricket Club and a sponsored walk.

Officers have also arranged a training session delivered by the North East Ambulance Service in the use of the defibrillator, with further sessions planned for the future.

Neighbourhood Inspector Joanne Malkin said: “Our long-term goal is to have defibrillators placed right across the Seaham area at key locations, and the team has more fundraisers planned to help achieve this.

“There’ll be sporting events coming up in the near future, including a ‘box-athon’ held by Seaham’s very own boxing club, and some of our officers will be completing a coast to coast bike ride finishing right in front of Tommy.”

These activities are carried out while officers are off-duty, and all money raised goes towards buying defibrillators.

The Northern Echo:

The first two defibrillators were provided by Paul Kirton, from Grassroots Football UK, who said: “We’re proud to work together with Durham Police to make the people of Seaham that little bit safer.”

Anybody who would like further information about the area’s new defibrillators, or who would like to find out how they can assist in fundraising, should contact Seaham Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101.