New helicopter for Air Ambulance

The helicopter is supported solely by public donations

The Essex Air Ambulance Service has taken delivery of a new helicopter.

The brand new Eurocopter 135 replaces a model that was 30-years-old.

The new machine has better navigation equipment and enough room to carry a relative with a patient.

Brian Goodwin from Essex Air Ambulance said they needed to raise £90,000 a month for the new helicopter, as opposed to £60,000 for the old one.

"We only went with this when we were comfortable we could raise that amount of money," he said.

"The people of Essex are absolutely amazing - they have come forward with that money and continue to do so."

The Essex Air Ambulance Service was launched by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Braybrook on 1 July 1998.

It operates seven days a week and flies on average three missions a day.