THERE was a "co-operative" community effort over the Easter weekend, which raised more than £559 towards potentially life-saving equipment.

The Midcounties Co-operative organised the fun day at its Franche Road food store in Kidderminster on Easter Sunday, to boost the fundraising effort towards the purchase and installation of a community defibrillator.

The event took advantage of the empty bank holiday car park and allowed residents join a car boot sale on site. Visitors were also able to browse craft and food stalls, while children had their faces painted.

Colleagues at the nearby Midcounties Co-operative food store in Stourport were also on hand to support the fundraising event. They further encouraged customers to donate in-store with a prize giveaway and dressing up as chicks and bunnies throughout the weekend.

Philip Price, acting store manager at the Kidderminster store, said: “As a community retailer, we want to bring people together to help support our local area. We had a really great day at our Easter event and are proud of the efforts of everyone involved. These funds will go a long way to helping us install the defibrillator which could benefit people who live, work or shop here in Kidderminster.”

Defibrillators can be a life-saving facility in the time waiting for medical services to arrive, and its addition will directly benefit local people in Kidderminster. Once installed, the store will be providing training sessions to both colleagues and the community on how to use the equipment.

The Midcounties Co-operative has teamed up with The Community Heartbeat Trust, a leading national charity dedicated to providing defibrillation services to local communities. The charity will support the Society by supplying the defibrillators and helping to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, and The Midcounties Co-operative has pledged to pay the ongoing maintenance costs.