Annual rallies organised by vintage vehicle and machinery enthusiasts in Powys are helping to keep the Welshpool-based air ambulance service flying.

Members of the Montgomeryshire Vintage Club raised more than £5,000 last year for the vital service. It brings the club’s total fundraising for the charity, which it has been supporting since 2002, to more than £21,000.

Lynne Hughes, fundraising executive for the Wales Air Ambulance, said she was delighted to attend their annual meeting at Welshpoool Social Club to receive the “fantastic” donation of £5,150.

The club, which meets on the first Thursday of every month in Welshpool, has been raising funds for Wales Air Ambulance for the past six years with support and membership growing stead-ily each year.

Commenting on the total amount raised in that time, Mrs Hughes said: “This is truly amazing and we are extremely grateful for their continued support.”

She added: “The Wales Air Ambulance needs your help to keep its helicopters flying. Having responded to more than 10,000 mercy missions since the service was launched in 2001, the crews who man Wales’ three air ambulances stations truly are the angels of the skies.

“The Wales Air Ambulance provides a vital support service to the people of Wales, but not many of us realise it is there until we need it. The service was launched in Wales more than six years ago on St David’s Day. Since then the teams have attended thousands of emergency call-outs.

“Wales was the last country in Europe to have a helicopter ambulance, so compared to other countries we are still very much in our infancy – but the invaluable work undertaken by our staff and volunteers and groups such as Montgomeryshire Vintage Club has made the organisation an outstanding success already.”

The funding for the service in Wales is obtained from public and business donations because no government or National Lottery funding is given.

Mrs Hughes added: “We will now build on our success so far, using our strengths to ensure Wales continues to have an Air Ambulance service second to none.”

The Welshpool-based helicopter can be airborne within three minutes of a call being received and travel at 140mph, taking the most direct route to the scene.

By Deborah Knox