New air ambulance arrives in east

It will cost £110,000 per month to keep the BK117 in the air

The new East Anglian Air Ambulance has arrived in East Anglia from Germany.

The Eurocopter BK117 is currently being fitted out with equipment and re-sprayed in yellow before it comes into service in March.

Once the refit is complete and the crew fully trained, the leased craft will replace the existing Bolkow 105, which is now 27-years-old.

The ambulance is more spacious so it can accommodate "walking wounded" and will contain a range of new equipment.

Running costs for the new aircraft are more expensive.

It will cost about £110,000 per month to keep in the air.

The ambulance trust covers Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and receives no NHS, government or lottery funding so is entirely dependent on fund-raising.