THE community on a new Thurrock housing estate that puts its heart and soul into lighting up for Christmas now has tangible signs of its kind-heartedness with the installation of a new public access automated external defibrillator (AED).

The housing development on the site of the former St Clere's golf club in Stanford-le-Hope is made up of two parts, Maple Park and Stanford Park and has quickly bonded as a community in its own right.

For the past couple of years residents have created spectacular displays of Christmas lights and invited members of the public to visit and make donations to charity. Appropriately the new cabinet is located on St Andrew's way, the showcase site of the Christmas lights.

The past Christmas's good cause was Katie's Heart Appeal, a local community group which supports the An appeal raising funds and awareness for The Brompton Fountain and Hospital in London and the Arrhythmia Alliance and also installs defibrillators across communities in the area.

Because of the generosity of the residents at Maple and Stanford Park and the visitors the appeal has already put defibrillators in many local schools since the turn of the year but a special installation is about to be completed which means one will be active as a potential lifesaver on the housing estate.

One of the driving forces behind the charity is Charlotte Davies who says: "The Maple and Stanford Park Defibrillator cabinet is up.

"We had to buy a completely different cabinet to be able to do this but so glad we did. Thank you to Turtle Engineering Ltd for making us a customised cabinet. It is emergency ready and registered with the ambulance service.

"A massive thank you to everyone who has supported us, to the Christmas lights fundraisers, those of you who came and visited, donated, to everyone who was patient with all the visitors we had. Also to my husband Joe Gary Cowcher for installing it. It's not been easy! But 100 per cent worth it! We finally have our heart safe community."

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