SOLAR-powered lifesaving equipment is set to be installed in the Forest as part a groundbreaking initiative.

In a first for the UK, two defibrillators are being provided in special sun-powered boxes by Tidenham parish council in Beachley and Woodcroft.

The green initiative is being trialled by the defib company, and councillors have embraced the scheme as a way to save lives in areas where there is no ready power supply to keep the devices topped up with energy.

Two other defibs, powered from the mains, have also just been installed in the parish, on the wall of Tutshill Memorial Hall and beside the chemists in Sedbury, supplementing the existing one at the old warden’s block on Buttington Road.

Council vice-chairman Nick Evans said: “The solar-powered lifesaving devices are an exciting development, and we’re proud to be the first to have them.

“We were struggling to find a place with power to site them, and then the company said they were developing solar-powered ones, and would we be happy to install them?

“The boxes are currently being completed – it’s a fantastic idea, they use green energy and they can be put in remote places to save lives, which is the whole point.”

A training session on how to use the four new defibs, obtained with the help of a £1,000 grant from the Forest of Dean Council, was attended by around 40 people at Tutshill Memorial Hall on Wednesday, May 31, including from the local football club, businesses and the Women’s Institute.

Another one is set for Thursday, June 15, at 7pm at Sedbury and Beachley Village Hall.

Cllr Evans said: “The ambulance service said the Tutshill turnout was one of the best they have seen from a community, so we’re hopeful of another good show next week.

“The defibs are easily accessible and very easy to use, as they give verbal commands on how to use them. They are not anything to be afraid of and can save lives.

“Early defibrillation can be life-saving in the event of a cardiac arrest. By placing the devices in locations around the parish, we can help make sure that local people, old or young, are close to life-saving help if they ever need it.”

People are invited to attend the session that will provide information on basic life support as well as following the instructions provided by the defibrillator. The council has also written to local businesses and community groups inviting them to attend.

An announcement on where the solar-powered boxes will be sited is expected later this month.