FIREFIGHTERS organised a marathon with a difference to France and back to save children’s lives.

White watch ‘rowed’ 83, 100 metres on their gym equipment outside St Clement’s Catholic Primary School in Runcorn.

Their efforts, which included a car wash, have funded a defibrillator, an electrical device which restores heart rhythm.

The event was organised by crew manager Gav Hanson, whose sons, Billy, aged nine, and Archie, aged eight, are pupils.

Gav said:”To have a defibrillator in a school is absolutely vital to potentially save a child’s life.”

The school has now teamed up with The Oliver King Foundation set up by the parents of 12-year-old schoolboy Oliver King after his sudden death from cardiac arrest.

Head teacher Mark Parker said: “We will continue to work with the foundation to provide additional resources, training and advice.

“We hope that the defibrillator will never be used but it is there if needed.

“We want it to be a real community asset and have registered it with the ambulance service.”