The Rotary Club of Otter Valley has successfully installed the town’s first public defibrillator and is offering training on Thursday, June 22.

Businesses in Ottery are being encouraged to sign up for training following the installation of the town’s first public defibrillator.

The Rotary Club of Otter Valley raised £1,800 to install the life-saving equipment outside the new library in Silver Street.

The project took 18 months and was boosted by a £400 donation from the hospital league of friends.

The club is now organising training sessions for businesses, pubs and members of the public to learn how to use the equipment.

President Greg Layzell said: “We’re hoping it never has to be used, but if it does, then its there in the centre of town.

“We’re looking at the local pubs and other businesses as they’re the people that are close by to learn how to use it.

“We had a demonstration and it was very easy to use.”

The club worked with the town council to install the defibrillator in a central location - eventually settling on the outside of the library.

The defibrillator was supplied by the South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST), which will provide two awareness and training sessions on Thursday, June 22.

Rotarian Keith Spittlehouse said: “It is the first public access defibrillator in the town, although there are ones available inside The King’s School and the medical centre when these are open.

“There will be two sessions on the day - one for local businesses, shops, pubs and cafes, where numbers of customers would be expected, so staff would be aware if an emergency arose. This will be a daytime session in the library building.

“The second session will be that same evening when we plan to invite local organisations to send a representative so the word can be spread as widely as possible. “Interested members of the public can come to either session.

“If someone rings 999 when someone has collapsed and it seems like a cardiac arrest, they will be directed to the defibrillator if they are close enough.

“We hope they will have enough confidence to use it.”