THE number of defibrillators the public can use to save heart attack victims is to double for two Oxford estates.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper has confirmed it now had all the money ready to pay for two new units of the lifesaving equipment.

He said: “We have got the money, and I think we should go ahead with the first one.”

Each defibrillator will cost about £1,500, including installation and be fully usable by members of the public, with or without training.

They will be stored in weatherproof, burglar-proof cabinets on the site of the community centre in Blackbird Leys, and near the clock tower in Greater Leys.

If a person is going into cardiac arrest, a would-be user can dial 999 and receive a code to operate their nearest defibrillator and be talked through the process. There are already two units on the Leys – one in the new Leys Pool and Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road, and one in the health centre in Dunnock Way. However, these can only be reached when the venues are open. Mr Roper added: “Those are inaccessible after closing time.

“Once the centre is closed you can’t get to it and it’s not for public use.”

It is not yet known whether the units will be mains-operated or require recharging.

Blackbird Leys resident Liz Helliwell, who runs a weekly social group for the elderly called Friendleys at the community centre, said: “I think for the parish council to be doing this is excellent.

“It’s a good area. You get quite a few people going back and forward to the schools, coming into the community centre, and at the church and the shops.

“Someone could have a heart attack anywhere, but at least at the centre it’s easy to get to.”