A charity-run emergency air ambulance team will be travelling around Essex to encourage residents to send donations over the Christmas period.

Staff at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) will be working over the holiday season continuing to save thousands of lives each year.

EHAAT supporters are already getting into the festive spirit for charity from singing carols, selling homemade Christmas treat to collection buckets.

Gail and Jason Clark from Halstead have already decorated their house with Christmas lights to help boost funds for the air ambulance team.

Mr Clark said: “We’re not far away from the EHAAT airbase at Earls Colne so we often see the helicopter overhead. They do some amazing work, and we are only too pleased to help such a fantastic cause.”

Jon Rodriguez, head of fundraising at EHAAT said: “Santa isn’t the only one who will be flying this Christmas and we are really grateful that people like Gail and Jason want to support their local air ambulance at this time of year.

“If you’d like to raise money please let us know, we would love to hear from you. Whatever your fundraising idea is, it won’t take much to give it a festive twist and help keep us flying.”

A selection of specially designed cards are now available from the EHAAT online shop including tickets for the EHAAT Christmas Raffle, with a first prize of £3,000.

Some of the events that will be raising money for EHAAT between now and Christmas include:

  • Sunday, November 30 - A Christmas Celebration, The Salvation Army, Chelmsford
  • Sunday, December 8 - Paxmans Park Christmas Party, Old Heath Recreation Ground, Colchester
  • Saturday, December 14 - Christmas Concert, Christ Church URC, Chelmsford

The charity is also looking for help with seasonal collections. Individuals or groups who can spare some time to assist please call 0345 2417 690 or visit ehaat.org/festive for more information.