Airborne ambulance needs helpers

The service wants committed fundraisers to help

A recruitment drive is underway for the Great North Air Ambulance service.

The emergency service is looking for more than 2,000 new volunteers to work as ground crew.

The helicopter, which is based at Teesside Airport, can reach most emergencies in the area within 20 minutes.

But the service relies on volunteers to help with fundraising and increasing the profile of the service.

The Great North Air Ambulance has been flying to incidents across the north of England since 1991.

It covers an area of 5,000 square miles and a population of three million people.