LIFE-SAVING equipment is vitally needed in a Cotswold village, a campaigner has said.

Donna Holland is launching an appeal to fund two defibrillators for either end of Bourton-on-the-Water High Street, which sees thousands of visitors a year.

Each piece of emergency kit, which treats someone suffering from a cardiac arrest, costs £1,700.

But Donna, who runs Chester House Hotel and The Croft restaurant with her husband Simon, claims the whole community will benefit and hopes it will pull together.

She has now organised a special presentation by the Community Heartbeat Trust, which supplies the equipment, at Bourton Chamber of Commerce's annual general meeting in Chester House.

And she hopes it will encourage people to dig deep to help buy the vital kit when they hear the talk on March 26. Donna was spurred on by the quick-thinking actions of her part-time porter Edward Taylor, who saved a choking diner's life last November, by performing the Heimlich manoeuvre.

"An incident like that puts first aid skills and access to emergency equipment at the forefront of your mind," she said. "I've also had a couple of incidents of old people collapsing.

"Unfortunately the ambulance took 20 minutes to arrive when an elderly lady on medication collapsed. It was an anxious time. If someone is in cardiac arrest, any time waiting would be very frightening."

When Donna looked into training her own staff in first aid, she came across the CHT and realised how essential defibrillators were.

"At the moment we only have them at the Cotswold School, Hacklings' main car park, Cotswold Leisure Centre and the industrial estate – we really need them in the heart of the village as well," she said.

Donna will talk to community groups including the WI and the Rotary Club in an effort to get them on board and hopes businesses could also offer sponsorship.

CHT spokesman, Martin Fagan, said: "You have about five minutes to bring someone back to life from a cardiac arrest. You can't do anything wrong with the equipment, as it talks to you to guide you through the process and will only work in a genuine medical emergency.

"Defibrillators are really taking off in the north Cotswolds – in the last 18 months we've installed or are in the process of installing 30 to 35."

Anyone wanting to donate to the appeal can contact Donna on 01451 820286.