HENRY Beaufort has become the first school in Winchester to install a public access defibrillator.

Following three years of fundraising, staff from the secondary school in East Woodhay Road in Harestock were able to unveil the life saving equipment on November 7.

It has been registered with the Southern Western Ambulance Service and is situated at the main entrance to the school on Priors Dean Road.

Donations from the British Heart Foundation, the Henry Beaufort Parent Association and the Hampshire Police boosted the funds to the target amount.

As part of the grant from the British Heart Foundation, the school has also been given a full CPR training kit with 10 practice dummies.

Headteacher Sue Hearle said: “We are so pleased to be able to provide this equipment for the benefit of the local community as well as for the school.

“Our community involvement is very important to us and to be able to support local residents in this way means a great deal to the staff, students and governors of the school.”

Defibrillators have proven to be lifesavers on many occasions after people suffer heart attacks.