A Cirencester choir has presented a cheque for £500 towards a new defibrillator for the town.

Choirinium, the Cirencester based choir for senior citizens presented the cheque on Monday to the Chesterton Community Project as a contribution towards a £2,000 defibrillator urgent needed in the area.

The money was raised by a choir concert in Cirencester Baptist Church and presented to Councillor Ray Brassington by the choir's chairman and event organiser Robin Thompson.

Cllr Brassington told the choir: "What you have done is truly staggering and with the money previously raised will go a long way to purchasing the defibrillator in what we hope will be in the near future."

The Chesterton district of Cirencester already has three defibrillators, and it is hoped that the fourth will provide support within an area embracing both the Chesterton Love Lane industrial area and parts of the Watermoor community.

Ray Brassington said: "I am extremely grateful to Robin for organising this event and to every member of the choirs that took part.

"A large number of people attended on the night and this is reflected in the amount of money raised. It was a fantastic achievement."

South West Ambulance Service in conjunction with the Chesterton Community Project group have organised a free training course which is open to any member of the public to attend and to learn how to use this life saving piece of equipment.

This will take place on Monday, December 9 between 2pm and 4pm and will be held in the Coxwell room in the Baptist church on Chesterton Lane, Cirencester.

Robin Thompson added :"I am so proud of the choir for what it has achieved and believe it will really help to provide significant defibrillator coverage in our district and beyond."

Choir members are aged from the late 50s to one singer who is over 90.

The choir meets on Mondays at St Lawrence's Hall, Chesterton.

It has some breaks during holiday times between 10am and 12 noon.