THE skies over Cumbria are being patrolled by their very own guardian angel in the form of a brand new air ambulance helicopter, reports Paul Duncan.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) unveiled Cumbria's first dedicated air ambulance, meaning that 80 per cent of the county will now be within ten minutes of air ambulance cover and no more than ten minutes flying time from a hospital.

The new air ambulance will be based at Penrith and is the result of a fund-raising campaign, which raised the money necessary to launch the helicopter but the charity still needs a monthly income of around £50,000 to keep the ambulance in the air.

GNAAS fund-raising manager Paula Harrison highlighted the need for continued donations: "We are an independent charity and receive no funding from the Government and rely on the air ambulance lottery and clothing donations to keep going," she said.

The helicopter will be based on a helipad at Melbourne House, on Penrith's Gillwilly Industrial Estate, provided by local businessman, Andrew Tinkler, of W.A. Developments.

This is the first time that Cumbria has had its own air ambulance, relying previously on cover from Teeside, Northumberland and Blackpool and Mrs Harrison believes that Cumbria having its own "lifeboat of the skies" is vital for the county.

"Cumbria is England's second largest county and summer tourism can mean that it can be difficult to get casualties to hospital," she said.

For details on the work of Great North Air Ambulance or to make a donation call 01539-730999.

The Royal Lancaster Infirmary has unveiled its new £200,000 purpose built emergency helipad. Hospital bosses believe the new helipad will cut down on the transfer time of patients from the previous helicopter landing site at Ripley School.