KIND-hearted villagers came to the rescue after “mindless” vandals targeted a phonebox containing a life-saving defibrillator over the weekend.

This is the second time the phonebox near the Reading Room in Alderholt has been damaged, and temporary repairs had been done after a hole was found in the glass back in November. The glass had been boarded and taped up while arrangements were made for repairs. But over the weekend the tape and boarding securing the glass panel was removed, leaving glass all over the pavement and the defibrillator exposed.

A Good Samaritan from Alderholt Chapel helped to board up the broken panel and clear away the glass.

Another resident has offered to fit the new pane when it arrives.

Alderholt parish councillor Martin Smethers, who is also a community first responder and played a key role in getting four defibrillators installed in the village, said: “It is just mindless. If they can do that the worrying thing is are they going to damage the defibrillator? That is the issue.

“The defibrillator was not damaged but, had they not sealed the window, it might have had to be removed until the glass is replaced.”

Cllr Smethers says defibrillators are “vital” and “somebody’s life could depend on it”.

He thanked the Alderholt Chapel on behalf of the parish council.

A spokesman for Alderholt Chapel said: “We'd seen the post about the damage on Facebook and how it was making people feel negative, so we decided to do something to help. We didn't do much, but it made the defibrillator box better and the village safer. At Alderholt Chapel we're organising a Community Action Day on Saturday, February 17 where our aim is to bless the community by undertaking practical work to improve our village and help its organisations. This was a great chance to practice and we're pleased it has received a positive response.”

The phonebox was adopted by the Community Heartbeat Trust. It will not have to fork out for repairs as an offer has been received to replace the glass for free.