A DEFIBRILLATOR was used to help a patient outside a Co-op store.

Colchester Community First Responders, which manage the potentially life-saving devices, said it was used outside the store in Iceni Way, Shrub End, Colchester, on Tuesday.

First Responder Martin Ford said in the nine months the defibrillator has been there, it has been used about 20 times.

He was unable to provide further incident details for patient confidentiality reasons.

A second defibrillator was also installed in Shrub End on Wednesday at Walnut Tree House sheltered housing complex.

It was paid for by the AEDdonate charity, while Liberal Democrat ward councillor Lyn Barton and party colleague Sam McCarthy,

fundraised for the box to house it.

Mrs Barton also used £500 from her Colchester Council Locality Budget.

Mr McCarthy and Mrs Barton previously fundraised for the Co-op defibrillator.

By the end of May, 50 defibrillators will have been installed by the Responders’ team across Colchester in the last 12 months thanks to them being bought by supporters.

Each one costs £1,350.

N Mr McCarthy is a Lib Dem candidate for Shrub End in May 2's Colchester Council elections.

Also standing in the ward are: Vic Flores (Conservative), Blake Roberts (Green) and Rosalind Scott (Labour).