LIVES could be saved at Abingdon Rugby Club after it was gifted a public access defibrillator.

The club, at Southern Sports Park, Lambrick Way, was given the life-saving device by members of the Abingdon Lions.

The fundraising club presented their donation to some of Abingdon's youngest rugby players in a small ceremony on Wednesday night.

It is intended to be used by the rugby club and all other sports clubs and residents in the area.

A defibrillator can be used to save the life of a person having a cardiac arrest, by "restarting" a heart which is beating irregularly.

Public-access defibrillators can be used without any training, and provide recorded instructions.

Abingdon RFC secretary Tracey Hedges said the whole club was grateful for the "generation donation".

The defibrillator will be installed on an outside wall at the club for the use of all sports players at the ground, she said.

Abingdon Lions, part of the international Lions Clubs organisation, is a registered charity and raises money for local and national good causes.