A COMMUNITY group has given Wiltshire Air Ambulance a generous donation to say thank you for all the amazing work it does.

Malmesbury League of Friends decided to donate £10,000 to the charity after finding out that the service had been called to 20 potentially lifesaving incidents in the Malmesbury area over the last 15 months. 

Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust is a registered charity which provides an essential helicopter emergency medical service in Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas.

The charity receives no regular direct funding from the government or National Lottery grants, so relies on donations from the public and local businesses to raise the vital funds needed.

Although Malmesbury League of Friends focuses most of its efforts on providing Malmesbury Primary Care Centre, Athelstan House and local patients with much-needed equipment, its members thought that the air ambulance service also needed some recognition.  

David Hide, chairman of Malmesbury League of Friends, said: “Although most of our donations are for items of medical equipment, we know what an absolutely vital service the air ambulance provides. 

"It is essential that it is able to continue its life-saving work and we are delighted to help in this way.”

Barbara Gray, deputy chief executive of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “This amount of money is hugely welcome and we cannot thank the league of friends enough.

"Our service is vital in Wiltshire, Bath and the surrounding areas and this will go a long way to keeping us flying. 

"We literally are funded by you, flying for you.”