THE North Devon Journal is today throwing its weight behind a campaign to buy a piece of life-saving medical equipment for North Devon District Hospital.

The British Heart Foundation Moving Hearts Appeal is trying to raise £38,000 to buy a machine which every year saves hundreds of people from heart-related diseases.

The machine, known as an echocardiograph (or Echo), can detect heart conditions in patients which might otherwise go undiscovered.

The hospital already has two echo machines. But demand for their use is increasing year-on-year. A third machine is needed to continue saving lives.

Owen Penney, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "We urgently need people — individuals, groups and businesses across North Devon and North Cornwall — to get involved and support the Moving Hearts Appeal."

● Full story on p 34 & 35.