A DEFIBRILLATOR at a sports club is believed to have been stolen after it vanished more than two weeks ago.

The life-saving piece of equipment, which was installed at Eagle Sports Football Club in Great Sankey, disappeared some time between May 21 and 26, leaving the club with no choice but to start fundraising for another.

Danny Nixon, Eagle Sports FC secretary, said: "We have had it just over a year in the changing rooms block in Thornton Road Recreation Ground.

"We had it in the changing rooms so that it was accessible not only for Eagle Sports but for all the other teams who play there.

"We thought someone had taken it home to check the pads but they didn't have it so I enquired at the other sections- nothing came back."

Eagle Junior Football Club and Eagle Rugby Union Club also use the changing rooms where the defibrillator was located and all managers and coaches are now being urged to lock them during training and match days.

Danny added: "All we can assume is that it has been taken- there is no sign of a break in so it must have been taken while something was going on on the field.

"There is another in the club house because they have functions and activities going on in the evening, but that's only accessible when the club house is open."

The defibrillator was originally bought as part of an initiative with the Cheshire Football League and has luckily never been used but is vital in case of an emergency on the pitch.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to try and raise funds for a defibrillator before the start of the new season in August.

If anyone has any information about the wherabouts of the device, contact the club or police who have been informed.