BILLERICAY High Street is a safer place...thanks to generous donations in memory of a man who died of a heart attack there.

MP John Baron presided at a ceremony to mark the installation of two life-saving defibrillator units – one at the town’s police station and the other in a disused red phone box.

The units are designed to be accessible to the public and give instructions on how to use them to restart the heart of someone in cardiac arrest.

They have been funded by local charities, including the Billericay Street Pastors. Street pastors co-ordinator Phil Norton said the death of a man after collapsing in the High Street in February has prompted a big push to get the units put up.

Mr Norton’s church-based group goes out at night at weekend to help make sure after late-night revellers come to no harm.

He explained “We thought ‘where are the defibrillators if it happens again when we are out on patrol?’ “We put the message out to the community that there weren’t any and it inspired the local community to come back to us to offer help with the fundraising, which we then decided to coordinate.

“I want to thank everyone. It’s really exciting that we have managed to get two.”

Now the units are operational, anyone making a 999 call about a patient in cardiac arrest will be directed to one of the defibrillators and helped to start life-saving treatment before an ambulance arrives.

Mr Baron said: “It’s been a great team effort. It shows our community at its very best. Let’s hope we never have to use them, but it’s great to know they are there.”

Among those who helped with fundraising and donations were One- Stop newsagents, in the High Street, Hazle’s Pottery Barn, Burstead Golf Club, Essex Police, the Lions Club of Billericay and the trust which gives out money raised by Mr Baron’s annual charity fun walks.

The units will be maintained by the Billericay Community First Responders group.

Group leader Dan Bunce said: “The street pastors have done an excellent job raising money, with the support of the whole of the town.

“We have two life-saving pieces of equipment that are going to give crucial minutes for those in need.”