Air ambulance in milestone flight

An air ambulance has carried out its 10,000th mission.

The helicopter, which covers Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, was called to Grantham to help a rider who had been thrown off his horse.

He suffered spinal injuries and was flown to the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham for treatment.

The air ambulance that costs £1.13m a year to run has been operating since April 1994 and is funded entirely by public donations.

Fundraiser Vivienne Chambers said it was an important milestone.

"Whilst this isn't an occasion where you go out and have a party, it's something that needs marking and it's something we would like all our supporters to know about," she said.

Based at RAF Waddington, near Lincoln, the helicopter can reach any destination in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire in 19 minutes.