A NEW piece of lifesaving equipment has been installed in Darton following a joint initiative between a school and a Christian centre.

Darton Primary School received the defibrillator as part of government funding and wanted to make it available to the wider community.

There was also a need to fundraise to purchase the cabinet to house the equipment.

Local councillors had the idea that the nearby Outreach Christian Centre, on Station Road, would be the ideal site and Pastor Paul Wood and church members agreed.

The OCC and Voice for Darton and Kexborough community group both contributed towards the cost of the cabinet.

The head of Darton Primary School, Becky Nettleship, said: “It’s great to be able to work in partnership to provide this life saving equipment available to the community 24 seven.”

Pastor Paul Wood from the OCC added: “It is important to us to be able to put this in place to serve the community.”

The equipment will be available going forward and has been described as lifesaving by those who have helped install it.

Coun Steve Hunt said: “It has been fantastic to support this initiative and see this plan come together.

Coun Leyla Nayeri added: “This is the third lifesaving defib which hard working councillors in this ward have been involved with putting in place following on from the ones at Lidl and Staincross WMC.”