A NEW model of defibrillator which further improves people's chances of surviving a cardiac arrest has been installed in a village centre.

The device, known as a ZOLL fully automatic AED, is located in Main Street, Cross Hills, between Wilman & Wilman estate agents and Enrico hair salon.

It's the latest of several defibrillators donated to the community by locally-based chemical company Airedale Group.

Existing devices have already been used more than 20 times.

The group also provides replacement batteries and pads for other defibs in the area.

Features of the new machine include reduced downtime between shocks, real-time feedback and a guide to compression depths.

Malcolm Linford, a Yorkshire Ambulance Service community first responder, says: "We believe this is the first of the new- generation AEDs in our area, which will hopefully save even more lives."

Airedale Group executive chair, Chris Chadwick, says: "It’s incredible to know that the defibrillators we've provided are actually being used in the community.

"As a company we’ve always been aware of our responsibility to communities and the environment.

"This project is one of many that form part of our environment, social and governance policy which we will be building on in the future."