Deal’s first 24-hour public access defibrillator (PAD) is now up and running from the front wall of the town hall.

Heartstart South East Coast has led a two-year campaign to buy the lifesaving equipment paid for by groups, organisations and fundraising events.

Beverley-Jayne Last, British Heart Foundation Heartstart instructor, said: “It’s taken a long time to raise the funds and get this PAD site in place, and I want to thank the people of Deal who made it happen through their generous donations.

“I’m passionate that people are aware that cardiac arrest is really a community issue, often happening in a public place.”

The Deal community first responder added: “The more people who know how to use these very simple devices and can perform CPR, the greater chance we give a person to survive.

“I have this vision that one day, Deal will be known as the safest town in the UK to survive a cardiac arrest.”

She thanked Deal Lionesses, Deal Pentecostal church parishioners, Deal Fire Station, the customers of Sainsburys, MP Charlie Elphicke and councillor Wayne Elliott for their support and for all the generous donations.

Mrs Last has also thanked Deal Town Council which provided the electricity for the unit.

During Cllr Adrian Friend’s mayoral term he approved the siting of the device on the wall of the historic hall.

Elizabeth House, opposite St Mary’s Church in Walmer, also houses a new 24-hour PAD.

Mrs Last added: “Fundraising continues and we are 60% of our way to purchasing a second unit for central Deal.

“We then want to follow that up with a unit in the Mill Hill area.”