A NEW defibrillator has been installed at The Chippenham Pit Stop which it’s hoped could save someone's life if needed to be used.

The piece of equipment, costing almost £1,500, was fundraised by customers and management at the truck stop just off Junction 17 of the M4 and is the latest move in the company's ongoing health awareness drive.

Health campaigns coordinator Lisa Hatherell said: "Let's face it, spending many, often stressful, hours behind the wheel is not the most healthy of occupations.

"So we are doing all we can to encourage our customers to be more health conscious by introducing healthy eating options and even installing an outside exercise gym.

"Around one hundred truckers stay overnight at the Pit Stop so to have a defibrillator on site is just a wise precaution certainly appreciated by everyone who has contributed to it."

Managing director of the Chippenham Pit Stop, David Hatherell, believes the facility is probably the only one in the UK, if not the whole of Europe, that runs a different health awareness campaign every month.

"Leaflets displayed around the site include vital information on how to spot vital symptoms for heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other life threatening diseases," he said.