Nine defibrillators are now in place across the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway.

The installation of the equipment means passengers, staff and the community will never be far from a defibrillator should one be needed.

An event took place at the railway’s Porthmadog Harbour station to inform the public about the equipment, where Tomos Hughes, who leads the project for the Wales Ambulance Service across Gwynedd and North Wales, provided demonstrations of the defibrillator.

Mr Hughes runs a local charity, Achub Calon y Dyffryn, Saving the Heart of the Valley, which aims to install defibrillators throughout the area.

The charity works in partnership with SADS UK and Keep the Beats charities.

Defibrillators provide users with vocal instructions to make them simple to understand in the case of emergency.

Ffestiniog Railway Society chairman Howard Wilson and Welsh Highland Railway Society director Alun Tomlinson were both present at the launch to signify the generous donations of both societies.

The railway’s safety manager, Nick Griffiths, and first aid volunteers and trainers Tony Peake and Ian Dawson also attended the launch, discussing the crucial role they play in keeping the railway safe for all.

First aid volunteers Judith Ward and Gordon Jackson were unable to attend the launch, but have made significant contributions to the railway’s health and safety department over the years.