ANYONE suffering a heart attack in Basildon town centre has a better chance of survival following the installation of life-saving equipment.

A group of shop and security staff are being trained to use the six new defibrillators.

They have been placed in locations across the town centre.

The machines can be used to restart the heart by giving it an electric shock.

Wendy Risdale-Barrs, from the East of England Ambulance Service, said: “We know having a defibrillator quickly on scene with a patient whose heart has stopped gives the patient the best chance of survival.

“There’s the potential to save more lives by having the machines in the town centre.

“This is an addition to our already-valuable community first responder group for the ambulance service at the Eastgate Shopping Centre.

“The ambulance service will be supporting all the training, including some public sessions throughout the year.’’ The defibrillators will be placed with trained retail managers and security staff, who are being trained to use them by the Eastgate Shopping Centre.

Basildon Town Centre Management has funded the project because it wanted to improve customers’ safety.

Graham Keegan, the firm’s deputy general manager, said: “It's fantastic that visitors to Basildon can be offered this, should they need it.’’ PC Colin McCabe, neighbourhood constable for Basildon town centre, said the defibrillators could mean the difference between life and death for shoppers taken ill.

He added: “I am pleased to support this initiative.

“It will mean if someone suffers heart problems in the town they can be dealt with quickly.”

When the heart stops pumping blood around the body, a person’s chances of survival decrease by 14 per cent for each minute which passes without defibrillation.