LIFE-saving medical equipment will never be more than 350 metres away in the event of an emergency in Huncoat.

Five defibrillators are being installed across the town over the next week as part of a masterplan to have one every one fifth of a mile.

Four others are planned across Accrington, in the central and Spring Hill areas.

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Accrington-based paramedic of 27 years and local councillor Eamonn Higgins said the £1,500-a-piece defibrillators could prove to be lifesavers.

The high-tech gear works by delivering an electric shock to people with life-threatening heart conditions.

Contrary to popular belief, they do not actually ‘re-start’ hearts, but instead work to correct an irregular rhythm.

Cllr Higgins, who won his seat for Labour during the local elections in Spring, said: “I’m only too aware with my work as a paramedic that sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and without these machines the survival rate drops by some 10 per cent for every minute that someone is waiting for treatment following an attack.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is the world’s biggest killer, with around 140,000 deaths [every year] in the UK alone.

“We’ll be arranging a one-hour training course in basic life support and the use of the community defibrillators, which residents are very welcome to attend.

“It will be delivered by North West Ambulance Service paramedics, and promoted when details are finalised.”

The state-of-the-art life-saving defibrillators have been bought from NWAS with funds left over from the town’s Neighbourhood Management Board.

Former councillor Dave Parkins was also credited with spearheading their installation.

One has already been installed at the gates of Peel Park, at the foot of the Coppice in Accrington.

The others will be fixed into code-locked cabinets – with 999 operators able to give the code out to callers – outside The Whittakers Arms pub in Burnley Road, Accrington, The Black Bull pub in Lowergate Road, Huncoat, The Railway Pub at Huncoat Railway Station, and the Mapleford Nursing Home on the wall facing Bolton Avenue.

Former Hyndburn mayor and Spring Hill councillor Munsif Dad, said four will also be installed at the Sure Start building in Ferngore, at the Raza Jamia Masjid mosque and community centre in Grimshaw Street, and two further unconfirmed areas.

He said: “These are to be fitted shortly and will be available to benefit the whole community in the Central and Spring Hill area.”

The need for more of the devices to be readily available was highlighted following the collapse of former Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a heart attack during a match in March 2012.