A HEALTH care appeal covering North Yorkshire and Teesside is on the look-out for volunteers to hold car boot sales next year.

St John Ambulance needs to raise thousands of pounds to replace many of its ambulances and first aid equipment. The service needs to upgrade its old vehicles to meet new European and British standards.

Phil Bustard, appeal coordinator, said: "Relying on our core supporters and charitable donors is simply not enough to ensure the charity keeps up with the times and is able to respond positively to increasing needs."

Volunteers attend almost every major sporting and public event across the region, and last year treated more than 3,000 people across North Yorkshire and Teesside.

More than 6,000 people were also trained in first aid during 1999, including teachers, community groups and local employees.

More recently, the charity was involved in setting up rest centres and transporting vulnerable people from hospitals and sheltered housing to safety during the flood crisis.

Anyone willing to organise a fund-raising car boot sale next year should call (01845) 521919