People taking strenuous exercise at leisure venues in Huntingdonshire now have extra protection if anything goes wrong. First aiders at the five leisure centres managed by the district council and Hinchingbrooke Country Park are to get defibrillators to p

People taking strenuous exercise at leisure venues in Huntingdonshire now have extra protection if anything goes wrong. First aiders at the five leisure centres managed by the district council and Hinchingbrooke Country Park are to get defibrillators to provide immediate treatment for a cardiac arrest. The move is a joint venture of the council, the British Heart Foundation and Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, which provided training.

The devices were formally handed over at St Ivo Leisure Centre, in St Ives, on Monday, and will also be used in the centres in Huntingdon, St Neots, Ramsey and Sawtry. Councillor Jean Chandler, who is HDC cabinet member for leisure and also chairs the St Ives branch of the BHF, said the defibrillators were vital pieces of equipment that could save lives. Dr Anthony Brooks, consultant in anaesthetics at Hinchingbrooke, commended the council for providing the devices in places visited by large numbers of people "and where a risk exists that someone may become ill".

Pictured at the handing-over ceremony are (left to right) Helen Hunter from the BHF centre manager, Ian Cousins and Councillor Chandler.