An area of Swindon is one of the worst places in England for access to a defibrillator.

Walcot has been identified as one of the 10 worst places in the country for accessing the life-saving equipment in the event of cardiac arrest.

This is according to data from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

In some parts of Walcot, the average retrieval time for a defibrillator is 12 minutes and 27 seconds.

This equates to an average walking distance of 1,081 metres to reach a defibrillator.

Research indicates that if cardiac arrest victims can be reached and defibrillated within five minutes, survival rates increase by 50 to 70 per cent.

The charity is urging community groups in the 'defibrillator deserts' to apply for a free device to be installed in their area.

This would allow the defibrillator to be found and used more quickly, increasing the chances of survival for victims.

The BHF's Community Defibrillator Funding Programme will finance the devices, which will be overseen by a designated 'guardian' from the group.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF chief executive, said: "Every defibrillator has the power to save a life – that's why I’m thrilled that we're able to fully fund 320 of these lifesaving devices for the areas that need it most.

"When someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts – early access to a defibrillator is vital to give someone the best chance of survival.

"Although we have made progress, there are still too many communities that lack quick and easy access to a defibrillator.

"With the reopening of this fund, more communities will now have access to a defibrillator that can save lives."

There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in the UK but less than one in ten people survive.

Every minute without CPR and defibrillation after a cardiac arrest can reduce the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent, highlighting the importance of early CPR and defibrillation.

Communities given a defibrillator will receive a device and cabinet, and installation costs will be covered where required.

They will also be able to order replacement parts free of charge when they expire or are used in a rescue.

Each defibrillator will be registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, so that ambulance services can direct bystanders to the nearest available device in the event of a cardiac arrest.