Regional air ambulance charities in the Eastern region and the capital have united to raise awareness of the emergency pre-hospital care they bring to patients in their time of need.

In 2016 alone, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, London's Air Ambulance and Magpas Air Ambulance were called out to 6,787 serious medical emergencies, providing advanced critical care at the scene.

All these charities rely on funding to ensure they can continue to deliver this life-saving service each year.

National Air Ambulance Week runs from September 11 to 17, and to mark the occasion the charities are encouraging the public to support their local air ambulance. One way to help is to make a £1 donation for a helicopter pin badge. There are four pin badges to collect, each representing the four air ambulance charities. The badges are available throughout the region.

visit www.eaaa.org.uk or call 08450 669 999.