A VILLAGE’S new defibrillator has been unveiled.

The lifesaving piece of equipment was provided by the Flint and District Lions Club and has been installed on an outer wall of Carmel Village Hall.

Richard Polden, vice chairman and trustee at the hall, told the Leader: “Our journey started in 2014 when we found five trustees to take the hall over from Flintshire Council.

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“Since then we have worked with volunteers in the community to turn the hall into something that now resembles a community centre.

“We were approached by the Flint and District Lions Club, which has been very proactive in providing defibrillators in a lot of places.

“They said they wanted to have one in the village of Carmel and we are very grateful.

“It is there for the community, not the hall - it is something you never want to have to use but it is a vital piece of lifesaving kit.”

John Gregory, president of Flint and District Lions Club, said: “The defibrillator we have presented is the fourth we have presented this year - we have another four to go in the next couple of months.

“We have deliberately come to Carmel because they are people who have supported us tremendously well in the past in relation to, for example, our plant sales.

“When you present a defibrillator you hope it is never going to be used.

“You know that it is going to be used and when it is you just hope it can be used successfully.

“It is such a well used village hall that people will know very soon of its existence there.

“And if someone happens to need it I know the people of the hall will make certain their community know the defibrillator is there.”