The New Inn in Hounsdown now has the life-saving kit installed after Adrian Brading launched a fundraiser to find the £1,500 needed for installation.

Adrian told the Daily Echo: "When I started looking into getting a defibrillator, there was a national campaign promoting heart health awareness.

"It feels as though there isn’t as much profile about the importance of keeping your heart healthy as there is around some other diseases.

"For instance, there is more knowledge and understanding about cancer, but very few people realise how quickly an unhealthy heart can deteriorate and, in some cases, how it can be fatal.”

READ MORE: The pub near the water with beach huts and fresh fish on the menu

Adrian soon got the pub’s locals involved with the fundraising effort. 

Barmaid Sarah Robinson arranged an event with live music and a barbecue in the pub garden.

Adrian added: “The best part was seeing everyone come together. One pub regular cut all his shoulder-length hair off which raised an amazing £600. Incredible!”

The defibrillator is now accessible to all the community.

New Forest District Councillor Neville Penman, who attended the unveiling of the defibrillator, added: “I’ve been asked by a number of residents if we could get more defibrillators installed in the area. There is one already, but it’s inside the community centre, which is locked daily at 4pm and not accessible 24 hours a day, which isn’t very helpful in the event of an emergency. The pub has had its defibrillator installed outside, so it is easily accessible for those in need.”

The defibrillator comes with training and a guide manual as to how to use it and the pub is also being supported by cardiac charity Heartbeat.

The pub stands beside the A35, the main route linking Southampton and the New Forest and first opened in the 1890s. Its name reflects the fact that there was already a pub nearby when it opened. The former Stagg Inn is now a private home.

The New Inn boasts a large beer garden, live music and regular community events.