A CALL has been made for donations to help fund a publicly-accessible, lifesaving defibrillator in Grays.

The devices already exist in Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham, East Tilbury and in Horndon-on-the- Hill, and one has just been purchased for Linford.

All have been made possible by donations from the public following fundraising events organised by Stanford mum Charlotte Yoxall, 35, whose daughter Katie, nine, suffers with a complex heart condition.

Charlotte has now secured a permanent home for a device in Grays at the Thameside Complex, in Orsett Road.

Charlotte, who recently won the Healthy Living award at the Thurrock Civic Heroes ceremony, said: “We need people to help organise fundraising activities. If every school in Grays did something like a sponsored non-uniform day, we’d raise the funds in no time.”

To donate, go to Charlotte’s Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Yoxall2 or for more information, e-mail her at charlotte.yoxall@hotmail.co.uk