A Cheltenham pub, which has led the way in supporting a campaign to save lives in the town, has become the first to receive a new defibrillator.

Customers at The Moon Under Water have donated to the PubLIC Hearts Appeal Cheltenham, which aims to significantly increase the number of defibs across the town centre.

According to The British Heart Foundation, there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year. The survival rate is less than 1 in 10.

Having access to a defibrillator can increase the chances of survival greatly – by up to 80%, if accessed within the first 2 minutes of a cardiac arrest. But without immediate treatment, 90-95 per cent of cardiac arrests prove fatal.

The new appeal has seen collection boxes put in place on bars in pubs and clubs and in other businesses across the town to encourage donations for the defibs, which cost about £1,000 apiece.

More than 20 businesses are collecting including town centre venues like The Bank House, The Spectre, Yates, Revolution, United Services Club, Circus Bar, The Beehive, The Clarence Social, The Stable, Whittle Taps and Smokey Joe’s.

Susie Servian, manager at The Moon Under Water, said: “We’re delighted to be the first recipients and as a venue that is open from 8am to midnight, the defib will be available most of the day and night.

“I’d encourage other venues who aren’t yet collecting for the scheme to get involved so that there will be support available across Cheltenham.”

PubLIC Hearts Appeal Cheltenham is a joint initiative being run by Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID), Tidal Training Direct, Cardiac Science, South West Ambulance Service, Gloucestershire Police and Chris Hickey – a cardiac arrest survivor.

The aim is to raise enough money to ensure that no-one is ever more than 200 metres away from a defib in Cheltenham town centre.