A FATHER and two of his daughters are to race in aid of a cash-strapped air ambulance because of its benefits to remote areas.

Malcolm Richardson, of Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, and his daughters, Gemma, 11, and Nicola, 14, are spending all their spare time training for the Great North Run at the gym and around the moorland villages of Gillamoor, Fadmoor, Harome and Nawton,

They are raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Mr Richardson will be taking part in the main run on Sunday, September 21.

Nicola and Gemma will compete in the junior run on Saturday, September 20, along with 6,000 other youngsters.

Nicola said: "Because Kirkbymoorside is quite remote, it is areas like ours that will benefit from the air ambulance.

"It could be a very valuable lifesaver for many communities in Ryedale, and we felt it was a good cause to benefit from our taking part in the Great North Run.

"We are 25 miles from the nearest accident and emergency unit at Scarborough Hospital by road, so time could be very crucial in an emergency."

The air ambulance, a charity, costs £1m each year to operate.

Since the service was set up three years ago, it has been called out 2,600 times.