A Mollington primary school has become one of the first primary schools in Chester to have its own heart defibrillator.

St Oswalds CE Primary School in Mollington received the potentially life-saving piece of equipment thanks to funding from local councillor Brian Crowe and the school’s PTA.

A defibrillator is a device that is used to shock a person in cardiac arrest and recent research has shown someone who is administered a shock within eight minutes of a cardiac arrest has a much improved chance of survival than someone who is not shocked.

The survival rate for cardiac arrest victims jumps from 2% to 90% if a defibrillator is used early enough.

The defibrillator, supplied by Cardiac Science, is easy to use and talks users through step-by-step instructions.

Staff, governors, PTA members and members of staff from Mollington Pre-school and Buddies After School club were all invited to attend a training session after it arrived at the school.

Headteacher Pip Rowe said: “We’re extremely grateful to Cllr Crowe for his help in providing the school with this potentially life-saving equipment.”

“North West Ambulance are aware we now have the equipment and we aim to ensure that the local community are also aware that the defibrillator is on site so that is seen as a community resource too.”