HEART attack victims in Rishton could be saved thanks to patients at a clinic who have helped to pay for a lifesaving machine.

The patients and their relatives at the Rishton Clinic, High Street, donated cash for the heart start' machine, or defibrillator, worth about £2,000.

Among the donations was £1,000 handed over by the family of recently deceased local man Albert Brindle, which helped to make the purchase possible.

At a special launch on Tuesday, Mr Brindle's family visited the health centre to see the machine, which is used to re-start hearts after a heart attack.

The defibrillator will be based at the Rishton Clinic, but is also portable and can be taken out into the streets.

Today health bosses in the town welcomed the addition of the new piece of equipment to the clinic.

Senior sister Margaret Boyer said: "This is fantastic news. If anyone were to collapse of a heart attack in Rishton, the machine would be available and could be used to get the heart going again it could be a real life-saver.

"Previously we were able to buy a portable blood pressure monitor for patients. It is lovely that patients and relatives wish to donate money to the clinic, and we made a decision that the funds should be used to benefit existing and future patients and residents of Rishton."

The Rishton Clinic is run by the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust, and is not connected to the GP surgeries in Rishton. But patients registered with GPs in the town are seen at the clinic, which offers services including speech therapy and smoking cessation.

Donations are received throughout the year from patients and relatives.

Margaret said: "Speed is vital in the case of heart attacks, the quicker the shock from a defibrillator is given after the victim collapses, the greater the chance of success.

"Currently 95per cent of people with cardiac arrest occurring in the community die. As many as one in five people who have a cardiac arrest do so in a public place and therefore stand to benefit from this."