THEY are "strategically placed": one in the vestry, the other "high up in the bell chamber", which is handy for anyone climbing the tower or spire who might experience a sudden cardiac arrest. Salisbury Cathedral has been commended by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for installing two potentially life-saving defibrillators.

The initiative came from the cathedral's director of marketing and communications, David Coulthard. "With hundreds of visitors and pilgrims coming each day, and many services taking place," he said, "we are very aware of the need to have the relevant systems in place to care for anyone who becomes seriously ill."

Last year, he approached the local branch of the BHF, and they helped with half the cost of the equipment. "We hope we never have to use them; but, if we do, it gives us a fighting chance of saving someone's life." Among the dozen staff learning how use them was the facilities manager, Steve Williams, pictured practising on a colleague.

The plan is to give training in their use to all the volunteer guides, although in an emergency anyone can use them, as they are "talking" machines that tell the user what to do throughout the process of defibrillation, besides monitoring the patient's progress.