GENEROUS county residents have helped raise more than half a million pounds to help fund lifesaving research into heart disease.

Enough money has been donated to the British Heart Foundation from Bucks residents for the charity to fund 67 defibrillators, 13 healthcare professionals and lifesaving diagnostic equipment.

A total of £553,000 was raised in Bucks over the course of the last year, the charity has announced this week.

Area manager Suzanne Halsey said: “We’re truly overwhelmed with the ongoing generosity of the local community in Buckinghamshire. We’re so grateful to all our supporters and want to thank every single person who has joined us in the fight against heart disease.

“People often don’t realise that the sofa or dress they donate to or buy from their local BHF shop actually raises vital funds and helps pay for anything from an echo machine in their local hospital to a community heart support group.

“We couldn’t fund this life-saving equipment or research in Buckinghamshire without the support of the local community and we hope they will continue to support BHF shops for many years to come.”

Some of the money raised has been ploughed back into the 12 Heartstart schemes the BHF runs in Bucks, which teach emergency life support and CPR training in county schools and businesses.

Around 738 people die from coronary heart disease in Buckinghamshire every year.

To find out more about the British Heart Foundation, go to www.bhf.org.uk.