A LIFE-SAVING piece of equipment was presented to hospital staff after a major fund-raising push went past its halfway point.

The Friends of Pendle Community Hospital, a group of volunteers who raise money to provide equipment, handed over the first of two defibrillator units to hospital staff during a presentation at the Leeds Road centre.

The appeal was launched earlier this year and the aim was to buy two portable units for use on the ground floor of the hospital.

Group spokesman Gerard Newsham explained: "There are defibrillator units in the hospital already.

"But we felt there was such a flow of people through the ground floor it would be beneficial to have one of the units at each end of the ground floor for use in an emergency."

The units cost around £3,000 each. The group is already halfway towards the cost of the second unit and there is a major push on to get the remaining funds in quickly so the Friends can buy it at a discount.

"If we can get the remaining money in fairly quickly we will get a discount," explained Mr Newsham.

The fund-raising campaign has included quiz nights and a cabaret evening, together with generous donations from local people.

Anyone who can help the Friends meet their target is asked to contact Mr Newsham on 01282 717063 or Kath Haworth on 01282 421992.

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