Prudhoe North councillor Angie Scott has offered to replace a defibrillator which has been stolen from outside the cafe at Riverside Park

While appeals have been made for its return, the concern would be it may not be in a safe or usable state.

Councillor Scott said: “The defibrillator has been missing for many months and now the summer is just around the corner the park is thriving since the Tyne Riverside Cafe has opened.

“I am happy to use some of my small schemes allowance to get a replacement or at the very least make a sizeable contribution to the equipment as defibrillators can save lives.”

Small schemes funds allowances enable local councillors to help meet the cost of local projects without having to go through a lengthy process to meet local needs.

For every minute someone is in cardiac arrest without CPR and access to a defibrillator, their chances of survival drops by up to 10 per cent.

Northumberland Labour leader Councillor Scott Dickinson said: “I would like to commend Councillor Scott who is totally dedicated to the people she serves.”