A £2,750 appeal to buy a 'heart-start' defibrillator for Darwen town centre has hit its target.

Trustees from the WM and BW Lloyd Charity Trust gave a £750 donation yesterday to the appeal, run by the town's market traders.

After receiving the cash, market superintendent Gwen Sangster was straight on the phone getting a quote for a wish-list, which includes a defibrillator, a training unit, an alarmed box for the defibrillator, and mannequins.

Market hall representative Eileen Guy approached the charity for help yesterday morning - and took receipt of the cheque just a few hours later.

She said: "It's a very good day for Darwen. When we found we had a shortfall I went to see them this morning and asked could we have the shortfall. He said it had already been decided and he just went and got the cheque signed."

The trust was set up in 1974 by brother and sister William and Betty Lloyd to provide for those who lived, or were educated, in the old borough of Darwen.

The siblings made their money in the cotton industry and, with no family to pass their money on to, they set up a fund with £15,000 and left substantially more money to it in their wills.

So far, some £1.25m has been given to Darwen organisations and individuals. John Jacklin, one of the three trustees, said: "It seemed to the trustees the project would benefit the people of Darwen in general.

"If there were any Darreners that were taken ill there would be instant access to the equipment and it may well save somebody's life."

Market traders have already had CPR training, and will have defibrillator training.

Funds of £2,023.60 were raised by the traders through the Heart to Heart campaign to buy a £1,300 defibrillator, and to pay for training.

A defibrillator delivers an electric current to resuscitate a heart-attack patient.

Eileen thanked everyone who donated to the appeal.