A MARATHON runner has raised enough money to buy life-saving equipment for his village.

Elvington resident Colin Skelton ran both the Great North Run and Yorkshire Marathon last year and purchased the automated external defibrillators (AEDs) from his fundraising total of £2,621.

The volunteer community first responder knows all about the equipment's importance and has put them in place at the Village Hall and Elvington Medical Practice.

He said: “As first responders we have an AED, but we’re not on duty 24/7. I thought that if I could raise the money and purchase one it would cover the village all the time if someone needed one.

"With the marathon and Great North Run under my belt, the money started to come in and so many businesses supported what I was trying to achieve.

"I would like to thank everyone that has made my goal come true. If one life can be saved by all the hard work I have done I know I have accomplished what I set out to do."

The owner of Skelton Plumbing Services was sponsored by a range of businesses, including Elvington Park Building Services, Rolawn, Formula Exhibitions, Marshall Arts and Elvington Plant Hire.

Residents will be taught how to use the AEDs during two events at the village hall, on February 20 and February 27, from 1pm to 4pm.

Andrew Hudson, from Elvington Park Building Services Ltd, supported Mr Skelton's fundraising drive in memory of his friend.

"When I heard Colin was fundraising for a defibrillator, it was only months previously that I remember kneeling at my friend Chris Olsen’s side, desperately awaiting help whilst applying CPR," said Mr Hudson.

"It was the longest 12 minutes of my life, and sadly Chris passed away. I’m not sure whether the defibrillator would have changed the course of life, but at least we could have tried."