A NORTH Yorkshire man has been praised by Prime Minister Thersa May for his tireless efforts in aid of the airborne lifesavers.

Bernard Simpson, 88 from Beadlam, near Pickering,, is set to be given a Points of Light - a special award which honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.

In 2003, Bernard founded the Beadlam Tractor Run, one of the UK’s largest annual tractor runs, which has so far raised more than £102,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

It has been an annual event ever since. This year’s run, on May 6, saw more than 200 tractors take part in a 50-mile route through 19 villages in Ryedale.

In a letter to Bernard, Theresa May said: “By organising the Beadlam Tractor Run and raising over £100,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, you are supporting a vital service for rural communities.

"You should be very proud of your achievements over the last 16 years and your success in rallying the community around such an important cause.”

Bernard is the 898th winner of the Points of Light award which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

A delighted Bernard said: “It’s a fantastic surprise and something I never expected.”

The chairman of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Peter Sunderland, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Bernard has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award."