Lifesaving equipment has been installed in the heart of a south Norfolk village.

Banham Parish Council has installed its first defibrillator, located at Banham community centre, on Kenninghall Road in the village, near Diss after Banham's Appleyard Fayre committee donated £1,500 towards the cost.

Parish clerk Geraldine Sayers Cowper said: 'Everyone is very grateful to the Appleyard organisers. Without them we could have been years away from installing the defibrillator.'

A defibrillator can make a crucial difference in the first few minutes before an ambulance or first responder reaches a patient who is not breathing and whose heart has stopped.

The defibrillator in Banham can be used on adults, children and babies and is linked to the ambulance control room with staff who can talk people though how to use it.

Now in its tenth year Banham's Appleyard Fayre has been donating money towards local charities.

Organiser and co-owner of The Barrel Bar Frank Foster-Wright said: 'Last year we raised £8,000 at the fair.

'We heard about the idea of a defibrillator and how long it could take to raise the money, we thought we would help.'

The rest of the money raised went towards four other charities including Banham youth cafe and the first responders in Hopton.

Mr Foster Wright added: 'We did not expect the festival to be such a hit when it started, but it has grown.

'It is good to give something back to the community.'

The 2015 Appleyard Fayre at The Barrel on Kenninghall Road is on Saturday, July 25 starting at 11am until late. The fayre is filled to the brim with arts, crafts, demonstrations musical performances, beer and food.

All proceeds from the day go towards local charities and projects.

The Appleyard Fayre is organised and run by volunteers, to get involved or know a charity or a project that could benefit from a donation email appleyardfayre@gmail.com

Are you involved in a community project? Call our newsdesk on 01379 651153.