A NEW life-saving emergency defibrillator has been fitted in Radcliffe.

The device is fitted to the outside of Excel-A-Rate business services offices in Ainsworth Road, near to the junction with Cobden Street, and is available 24-hours to anyone who requires it.

It was put in place by the Radcliffe-based finance company who are no strangers to big-hearted gestures.

When, deciding which good cause to support this year, David Ballan managing director of firm the noticed that there was a defibrillator lacking in that part of the town so resolved to amend the shortfall.

Mr Ballan said: “After realising that there wasn’t a registered defib in the area it just made perfect sense.

“The defibrillator is such a worthwhile investment for the community, however, we hope it’s never used.”

After it was fitted staff at the firm were joined by Julie Johnson and Les Sykes from neighbouring firm Ashworth building services suppliers for a training course led by Joanne Thwaites from the North West Ambulance Service.

Radcliffe’s newest defibrillator has also been registered with the North West Ambulance Service meaning anyone ringing for an ambulance will directed straight to it, if it is their nearest one, and given the access code.

The Ainsworth Road defibrillator joins a handful of the devices dotted around the town, including the town’s first at Trinity Baptist Church, in Westminster Avenue, and at Radcliffe Snooker Club, in Abden Street ­— installed last year after a member suffered a near fatal heart attack during a match in 2017.