A BURY school has been presented with vital life-saving equipment under a newly-launched scheme.

St Paul's Primary in Huntley Mount Road has become the first primary in the borough to benefit from the "Debfibs4Bury" campaign.

Behind the campaign is Bolton Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) Support Group, which was launched in 2008, and has already presented heart defibrillators to more than 30 schools and sports clubs in its home town.

Now, thanks to ongoing fundraising, the organisation is targeting schools throughout the Bury area.

Mrs Laura Taylor, who has helped set up the Bury campaign, said: "St Paul's was chosen after being nominated by charity supporter Rebecca Richards who is a special support assistant at the school.

"Ideally, we'd like to have this equipment in every school in Bury. We know that some high schools already have defibrillators. We would like schools to come forward to go on a waiting list."

The presentation of the equipment to St Paul's, and subsequent training, comes via a £400 package between Bolton ICD Support Group's "Defibs4Bury campaign" and the Irlam-based charity, Hand on Heart.

Mrs Taylor added: "Training at St Paul's will take place next week and will involve eight members of staff and 30 children."

Health research has revealed that, each week in the UK, between 10 and 12 children suffer a cardiac arrest.

Money to buy the defibrillators is being collated via a series of fundraising events being held by the ICD support group.

* Schools wishing to join the waiting list for the equipment are asked to e-mail defibs4bury@gmail.com