The battle to install a defibrillator in Bolton town centre continues after Bolton Council rejected the plans.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is working to create communication hubs across the region, including in Bolton, which would include the life-saving equipment.

The hubs will also allow people to make free landline calls to charities, to use wi-fi and to charge their devices.

Company JCDecaux has been working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to install the hubs.

An application was put forward to have one in Newport Street in the centre of Bolton.

However the local authority rejected the plans.

An appeal was launched against the decision earlier this year.

However this was rejected.

Now JCDecaux has launched a fresh appeal against the decision.

One person who has been vocal in support of the plans is Claire Axon and has worked to have defibs installed across the borough.

Her husband Neil died in 2012 after collapsing due to a result of a genetic condition he did not know he had.

Following this the mum from Little Lever has worked to have the lifesaving kits set up and raise awareness of CPR.

She said: “Defibrillators in our community are vital.

“At the end of the day the are the difference between somebody living and dying.

“Defibrillators give somebody the best chance of survival.

“We know that giving CPR to somebody gives then a six per cent chance of survival but with a defibrillator this rises to 74 to 76 per cent.

“We wean them in as many places as possible.”

A decision notice from Bolton Council stated in respect of its rejection of the plans: “Comments from the town centre manager indicate that there is no need for additional defibrillator access in the proposed area and this does not outweigh the harm to the street scene or character of the conservation area.”

Earlier this year campaigners  called for more equal access to defibrillators after research showed people in more deprived areas are further away from the life-saving equipment.

The British Heart Foundation said quick access to the equipment which can aid cardiac arrest victims at any time of the day is “crucial”.

Every minute of delay between a cardiac arrest and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent, the charity said.