LIFE-saving medical equipment has been installed at one of the area’s top attractions.

The World of Beatrix Potter™ Attraction in Bowness has taken delivery of a special defibrillator following a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Windermere.

Staff have received training to use the device - which retarts heart rhthyms - by the Northwest Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Andy Poole, Chief Executive of the World of Beatrix Potter said: “Recent statistics show that some 30,000 people in the UK each year have a cardiac arrest out of hospital and NHS data shows just 18.5% of those survive.

"As an attraction which welcomes thousands of visitors through its doors every year in addition to the many patrons of the Old Laundry Theatre, we are immensely grateful to the Rotary Club of Windermere for providing us with the equipment which one day may save a life.”

David Thomas, President of the Rotary Club, Windermere said: “We were approached by the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and are delighted to be able to help them by donating this life-saving piece of equipment which is well positioned to benefit the community as a whole.

"In addition, we would like to support the regional campaign and save more lives by assisting the North West Ambulance Service in co-ordinating a map of defibrillators in the area which are not yet logged by the emergency services.”

Businesses in the area who have this life saving equipment which may not be registered on the ambulance service database should contact David Thomas at the Windermere Rotary club who is helping to co-ordinate this data.

Cumbria County Council is currently leading a campaign to raise funds to buy 100 defibrillators within 100 days to go to 100 communities across the county because many people die of cardiac arrest before paramedics get to the scene.