Lifesaving equipment is being installed at a company’s offices in an effort to combat unexpected sudden deaths.

KDW Independent Financial Planning in St Albans are installing a community defibrillator on their premises.

Chairman Ken Wright decided to install the machine so that staff and local people could get swift help in case of emergencies such as heart attacks.

East of England Ambulance Service will visit the office to train staff in using the defibrillator.

The company are supporting cardiac charity SADS UK, who are campaigning to make defibrillators more accessible to communities.

A defibrillator works to restore normal heart rhythms if a person has a cardiac arrest.

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK, said: "We are delighted that KDW Independent Financial Planning continues to support SADS UK by helping to place defibrillators in the community.

"By having a defibrillator on their premises KDW is giving employees and the general public the best chance of survival if they suffer a cardiac arrest on or near the premises.

"Using CPR alone provides a 5 per cent chance of survival but using the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent.

"Early defibrillation is vital."