ROTARIANS in Llanidloes have unveiled a new defibrillator for the town, and will be offering a free course on how to use the life-saving equipment.

The defibrillator has been installed opposite the Spar supermarket on the wall of the old post office.

A number of fundraising events were held in the town to buy the defibrillator, including an Easter egg raffle in which Woosnam and Davies Newsagents raised over £900.

Llanidloes Rotary Club invited Annette Macken, regional training officer and Eleri Sergeant, divisional officer from Llanidloes St Johns to an awareness meeting so that the Rotarians could see how the equipment works.

This visit highlighted that the defibrillator works in conjunction with normal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, however the first-aider would benefit immensely from an understanding of the equipment.

As a result, a training day has been arranged by Llanidloes Rotary Club in conjunction with Woosnam and Davies newsagents and the Community Heartbeat Trust.

The defibrillator drop-in training day will take place between 10am and 3pm on Saturday, 20 May, in Chatwood House, Longbridge Street. The training is free and open to the whole community.