THE Wee County campaign to save the lives of those suffering from cardiac arrests took another positive in the Hillfoots at the weekend.

Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton & Devonside Community Council installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) that can be called upon in emergencies.

The crucial piece of equipment is located on the High Street in Tillicoultry and was officially welcomed on Saturday (July 28) afternoon.

And to coincide with the unveiling, a group of community councillors, local retailers and members of the public gathered for a training session in the Centenary Hall.

Adults and children alike had the opportunity to learn CPR and how to use the defibrillator with volunteers from the Forth Valley First Responders.

Ian Millar, from the community council, thanked everyone who was involved in the day and said that another session may be held on a week night further down the line.

He added: "The earlier CPR is started the casualty has much better chance of survival so please consider learning some lifesaving skills as some day this could help you save some one’s life.

"The community council will be holding some more CPR training sessions at a later date. If your group would like a talk and demo on first aid you can contact St Andrew’s First Aid for details."

Tuition was led by Nigel Campbell and Jen Neary from the First Responders, a highly-trained unit which attends to 999 calls ahead of the arrival of an ambulance, along with Stuart Aitken from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Both the AED and its housing cabinet were funded by the Burnhill Windmill Community Fund, while the latter fitted free of charge by SJS Engineering.

Access to the cabinet is available 24/7 by calling 999 and can be found outside Ochil Eyes which has agreed to supply the power it requires.

The importance of AEDs has been at the forefront in Clackmannanshire over the last few months, with communities working to establish them in towns.

Local man Gary Drummond teamed up with Alloa Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to put a PAD on the walls of Premier Bingo in Alloa at the end of last year.

Members of Dollar Community Development Trust also had one installed outside Lloyds Pharmacy on Bridge Street.

An appeal was also launched by the Clackmannan Development Trust to site and AED in the town.