A regional daily newspaper has won backing for its latest campaign – from the Prime Minister himself.

David Cameron has hailed the Burton Mail’s ‘Stay Fit, Stay Alive’ initiative as “absolutely excellent”.

The Mail launched its campaign after carrying a story about a man who suffered a heart attack after a workout at a gym.

His family claim he suffered brain damage because a defibrillator wasn’t available to treat him.

The newspaper now wants all gyms and health centres to have the equipment to hand on their premises as a matter of course.

So far, local politicians, businesses, health bosses, the St John Ambulance, schools and former professional footballer Fabrice Muamba – who retired from the game after collapsing on the pitch at White Hart Lane – have all signed up to the paper’s campaign.

And now they’ve been joined by David Cameron, who said: “I am very happy to back the Mail. I think that it is a really important issue.

“When people do fall ill, there is a golden few minutes when you can get a defibrillator to someone and it can make all the difference.”

In an interview with Burton Mail reporter, Rob Smyth, the Prime Minister added: “We have tried to play our part by making sure they are in schools.

“What the Burton Mail is doing to encourage people to get more defibrillators in public places is an absolutely excellent idea.”

Mail editor, Kevin Booth, said: “We are delighted the campaign has Mr Cameron’s endorsement.

“We want to get the message across that this equipment can make such a difference to a person’s survival hopes.

“The high profile backing of the Prime Minister can only help that cause”.