A FIRM of quantity surveyors has come to the rescue of a grounded air ambulance helicopter.

The Great North Air Ambulance has two helicopters on emergency work across the North, but a shortage of funds has meant the air ambulance covering Northumberland has been grounded for nearly a year.

About 160 staff from Faithful and Gould's Teesside and Newcastle offices have raised £1,754 from fundraising events ranging from bowling and quiz nights to New Year parties and dress-down days at work, to help get the grounded helicopter back in the air.

George Murray, a director of the firm, said: "We were delighted at the response of staff who have always been keen to dig into their pockets.

"The Great North Air Ambulance Service had to ground one of its helicopters due to lack of funding, therefore the money that we have raised will go towards the much-needed income to enable the helicopter to become fully functional and continue to save lives and suffering of local people."

Fundraiser Brian Cave, from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, said: "The Great North Air Ambulance receives no Government funding, therefore we rely solely upon the support of the general public and fundraising activities such as those undertaken by the staff at Faithful and Gould.''

The Great North Air Ambulance Service covers an area of 5,500 square miles and a population of 3.5 million people, spread across the north of England, the North-East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.