THAT’s the spirit! Around 300 members of Newtown Social Club in Trowbridge have helped raise £2,200 to buy a new defibrillator.

They paid out £1 to buy a strip of five raffle tickets in order to win bottles of spirits such as whisky, gin, rum and vodka.

The machine is located on the wall of the club in Stallard Street and will serve residents in the Newtown and Gloucester Road area within a 200-metre radius.

Club committee members Phil and Jenny Morris came up with the idea and sold about 1500-1600 raffle tickets every month.

They even had a t-shirt printed to enable Jenny to promote the raffle at club activities and events.

Mr Morris, 65, of St James Court in Church Street, said: "The defibrillator has been up for about four months now. Obviously, we are hoping it never gets used."

The defibrillator has been acquired through the South Western Ambulance Service, which will service and maintain it on a four-year contract.