They are the pieces of equipment located around our towns and villages that are able to save someone's life should they go into cardiac arrest.

Eastern Daily Press: The newly installed defibrillator now in place at our stores across Norfolk and Suffolk. Picture: Central England Co-operative.The newly installed defibrillator now in place at our stores across Norfolk and Suffolk. Picture: Central England Co-operative. (Image: Archant)

Now, defibrillators have been placed at the heart of communities in Suffolk after being donated by Central England Co-operative.

The Society has installed five defibrillators across the area as part of a scheme that will see hundreds of the lifesaving devices put in place at outlets across the region.

The devices have been installed at Stowupland Petrol Station, Thorney Green, Eye Food Store, Church Street, Carlton Colville Food Store, Ashburnham Way, Lowestoft Food, Westwood Avenue and Bungay Food Store, Hillside Road East.

Martyn Cheatle, Central England Co-operative chief executive, said: 'Sudden Cardiac Arrest is one of the UK's biggest killers and, after listening to the concerns of customers, members and partners, we want to help tackle the issue by getting more life-saving equipment into communities where it can save lives.

'As a responsible business we place a huge focus on making a positive contribution to the communities in which we trade; we are delighted to be able to build on our existing work with this new project which we are funding from the carrier bag levy.'

Graeme Clegg, store manager at Bungay Food Store, said: 'We are delighted to have been such an integral part of ensuring this lifesaving device has been installed at our store.

'If the defibrillator is ever needed, anyone can call 999 and the emergency operator will pass on a code that will open the locked case that the equipment is stored in.

'The device will then talk the person through how to use it – it is easy to use and any member of the community would be able to do so if needed.'

The business is working with ambulance services to identify the most suitable sites for equipment and, where possible, these will be in external locations allowing community use in an emergency at any time of day or night.

With each defibrillator installed there will be sessions available to staff at Society outlets, nearby business, local residents and community groups. Go in-store for details.