THE Wee County's volunteer trishaw service has equipped itself with a life-saving device in what is thought to be a UK first.

A defibrillator was officially presented to Cycling Without Age Clackmannanshire at the end of last month and will be taken along for all rides provided by volunteer pilots across the Wee County.

It is hoped the device will never have to be used, but it is available to help passengers, volunteers and others out on cycle paths in case of an emergency.

Clacks man Henry Gill, who helped bring the trishaw movement to the area, recently joined Clackmannan Development Trust's Scott Bamford as well as Cycling Without Age Scotland chief executive officer Christine Bell to unveil the defibrillator during an outing.

Mr Gill, who is keen to help elderly people who have mobility issues get some fresh air, explained the idea for the defibrillator was pitched at the organisation's recent AGM as a way of utilising lottery funding.

Originally, the money was to fund a third trishaw for the Clacks chapter of the Cycling Without Age movement, which started in Denmark some nine years ago and has since spread to some 50 countries around the world.

However, with things only just picking up as the coronavirus pandemic eases, there was no case for a third bike and the idea to carry a defibrillator instead was agreed unanimously.

Mr Gill told the Advertiser: "It will be a benefit for any of our passengers, any of our pilots and also anybody we meet on the cycle path.

"We hope we never have to use it, but we think it will be of value."

While numerous Cycling Without Age groups have contributed to installing defibrillators in their own communities, it is understood the Clacks trishaws will be the first to officially carry such a device in what is believed to be a UK or even a world first.

Mr Gill added: "We are certainly [the first to carry a defibrillator] in Scotland, could be in the UK, could be in the world."

The device was unveiled during a trishaw and bicycle ride to the Black Devon Wetlands from Clackmannan together with the town's development trust.

Scott Bamford, the active travel lead at the trust, had been organising bike rides on Thursdays throughout the summer and Cycling Without Age Clacks joined in on July 29 with a third trishaw brought along by chief exec Christine Bell.