HELPING to save lives.

That has been the aim of a Denbighshire community initiative.

Recently, Llanfair DC Community Council was approached to help fund defibrillators for the local schools and, as a community, it was decided to also help place defibrillators in each of the villages within the community.

Thanks to some fantastic fundraising and generous donations, the council is pleased to announce that defibrillators are now accessible to the public in a number of locations.

A defibrillator is located outside Ysgol Llanfair DC, thanks to the efforts of local residents’ fundraising, while there's also one in the Three Pigeons Inn, Graigfechan, during opening hours.

This defibrillator will be situated at the inn until it can be located in a central location in the village.

This installation is thanks to a generous donation from the Graig Aid festival committee.

Within the next few weeks, a defibrillator will also be available outside Llysfasi College, as well as in Ysgol Pentrecelyn during opening hours until a box can be provided to house it outside.

This is thanks to donations from the Community First Responders, the North Wales AED Fund and Ruthin Freemasons, as well as others, to ensure that Ysgol Pentrecelyn gets a defibrillator without delay.

All defibrillators and boxes were bought through Achub Calon y Dyffryn, a Welsh charity that aims to provide defibrillators in all communities across North Wales, at the lowest possible cost.

Achub Calon y Dyffryn provides free training sessions and support.

As the defibrillators are the same ones used by the Welsh Ambulance Service, the pads will be replaced as and when necessary.

An informal training session was held in the Three Pigeons Inn in November and more sessions are planned in the New Year.

These sessions will be advertised on the Llanfair DC Community Council noticeboards and on the website - www.llanfaircommunitycouncil.co.uk

Defibrillators are registered with the 999 service.

Anyone who calls 999 and needs one will be directed to the nearest available one.

Llanfair DC Community Council covers the villages of Llanfair, Graigfechan, Pentrecelyn and Pentre Coch, reaching up to Llanrhydd in the north and towards Rhydymeudwy in the south.

Meetings are usually held on the first Monday of the month at 7pm, details of which are available on the noticeboards and website.

All are welcome to attend.

Councillors are currently looking into the possibility of producing a newsletter as a way of reaching all residents in the community.