A primary school teacher who had an allergic reaction after being stung by a bee has praised East Anglian Air Ambulance after it came to her rescue for the second time in three years.

Catherine Edgington, 47, of Langham, was flown to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after suffering an allergic reaction to the bee-sting.

'In rural areas the air ambulance is absolutely essential,' she said.

'The fact they can fly a doctor to you so quickly is extraordinary.'

The incident bore shades of the past for Miss Edgington who said the air ambulance helped save her life in 2012 when she was stung several times by a swarm of bees which caused a severe allergic reaction.

The next thing she remembered was waking up in intensive care, but she believes the speed in which the air ambulance was able to whisk a critical care paramedic and doctor out to the scene, and then fly her to hospital, was key to her survival.

Three years on, Miss Edgington was walking between Stiffkey and Morston when she was stung by a bee.

She took some antihistamines and went home, but began to have an allergic reaction and went to her neighbour's house.

Her blood pressure dropped and she felt so bad a paramedic was called from Fakenham.

The paramedic administered adrenaline but Miss Edgington needed further treatment and was taken by the air ambulance to the N&N.

'This time I was conscious throughout the whole experience, and it was terrifying,' she said.

'The service we get from the air ambulance is extraordinary.'

•Have you been helped by the East Anglian Air Ambulance? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk