A NORTH-East aviation firm has provided a key ingredient to a new Channel 4 show in the hope of raising thousands for charity.

Sycamore Aviation, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, supplied an A320 aeroplane for use in Kevin McCloud’s Supersize Salvage show which airs at 9pm tonight (Thursday, April 24).

The programme will see Mr McCloud and three designers use the aircraft parts to create new items as diverse as rickshaws to rocking chairs and jewellery.

Sycamore Aviation removed around 2,000 potentially airworthy parts before cutting the aircraft into manageable pieces which were then transported to a workshop in London for filming.

The scrap value of the plane was £15,000, but the CEO of Sycamore Aviation, Kevin O’Hare had access to the aircraft and the means to disassemble it – which he also did for free.

Mr O’Hare made the generous gesture in a bid to raise money for the Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance (NCCA) that has supported his five-year-old daughter Katie’s fight against the illness.

He agreed with the programme makers that 15 per cent of the proceeds from the up-cycled objects created by Mr McCloud’s team will go to the NCCA.

Mr O’Hare said: “That was the deciding factor that convinced me to do this.

“I was always hopeful that they would make interesting items and maybe get retailers involved, but the thought of raising money and profile for this small charity clinched it for me, especially as they have helped us as a family over the last three years.

“Having the career break from being a pilot to look after Katie during the worst of her illness also helped me start the business – so there is a link between the illness, the charity, and the business, which ultimately led to the programme.”

Items from the show can be bought by contacting Mr O’Hare at info@sycamoreaviation.co.uk