A NORTHALLERTON woman is flying high after being appointed as a community fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Linda Stead took early retirement in 2013 after a 25-year career with Royal Mail - starting off delivering post but spending the last ten years helping to deliver human resource change programmes.

The 62-year-old and her husband, from Northallerton, then joined forces with friends to buy and refurbish the Oddfellows Arms pub in the town but after leasing that out Linda was looking for a new challenge.

She became a volunteer for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and has now been appointed as the rapid response emergency charity’s North Yorkshire community fundraiser.

Linda said: “I was really attracted by the values of the charity – the fact that they don’t cold call or door knock – as well as how well it is run.

“Travelling around the beautiful but remote areas of North Yorkshire you realise just how much people living and visiting here rely on the air ambulance.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer for Yorkshire Air Ambulance contact Linda on 07471 038524 or email l.stead@yaa.org.uk