KEIGHLEY Men's Forum heard about the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Speaker Mike Smith said the charity operates two helicopters – one from RAF Topcliffe and the other from its headquarters at Nostell Priory.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance was founded in 2000 and provides a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to five million people region-wide.

In the past year, the helicopters have been called out around 16,000 times.

Average dispatch time is two to three minutes and patients are transferred to the nearest major trauma centre, flying at speeds of up to 160mph.

To keep both of the helicopters maintained and in the air, the charity needs to raise £19,000 a day.

For more details, visit yorkshireairambulance.org.uk

Mr Smith was thanked by forum president Rod Fall.