THE Great North Air Ambulance could be grounded from next year unless £2.5m can be raised.
European regulations due to be enforced from 2004 mean the current craft flying out of Teesside International Airport, which attends emergencies in Tees Valley, South Durham and North Yorkshire, could breach safety rules.
Air ambulance chiefs, celebrating the service's first anniversary at the weekend, launched an appeal for a new helicopter.
Fundraising director John Everson said: "What we want to buy is an MD Explorer 902, costing about £2.5m. It will conform exactly with EU regulations, it's faster and got everything we need."
The air ambulance was launched at Teesside Airport last July on a month's trial and began operating on a full-time basis in March this year. It has carried out almost 500 missions so far.
The new appeal will run alongside an ongoing bid to raise £1.5m a year to keep the current craft in operation. To make a donation telephone (01325) 487263.
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