REDDITCH Council staff are to undergo training to use defibrillators which are to be installed at sports centres across the town.

Five defibrillators have been bought by the council and will be sited at Abbey Stadium, Hewell Road Swimming Pool, St Augustine's, Kingsley College and Arrow Vale.

Council sports services manager Dave Wheeler said: "The defibrillators will significantly enhance the possibility of saving lives in the event of an incident occurring as these units are designed to extend the time people are kept alive prior to the emergency services arriving on site."

He added: "This funding also means we can satisfy the Primary Care Trust's guidelines by having these units on site when catering for patients taking part in exercise rehabilitation programmes."