PARISH councillors on Exmoor have given a vital financial boost to a much-valued local emergency service.

Brushford Parish Council chairman Cllr Nick Prouse presented a £500 cheque to Barbara Wilson, who has been a fund-raiser for more than 20 years for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA).

Unlike traditional fund-raising, the council’s contribution was taken directly from its dedicated community fund to support the charity’s ongoing life-saving missions across the area.

DSAA relies heavily on public donations and community grants to keep its helicopter flying and its clinical teams responding to critical emergencies.

The £500 Brushford grant will go directly toward funding operational costs, essential medical supplies, and advanced pre-hospital care equipment.

Cllr Prouse, speaking on behalf of the parish council, praised the vital work of the air ambulance.

He said: “We are incredibly proud to support the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance with this donation from our council funds.

“Our community understands just how crucial this rapid-response service is for rural areas like ours, and we are thrilled to help ensure they can continue their life-saving work.”

Mrs Wilson expressed deep gratitude to the council and said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Brushford Parish Council for their generosity.

“It costs thousands of pounds to fund every single mission, and support like this from local councils ensures we can be there for patients when they need us most.”

More information about the charity's work and how to make a donation is available on its website.

DSAA, which has recently taken delivery of a second helicopter to extend its operating hours, attends nearly 3,000 emergency incidents every year with each mission costing about £3,500, without any direct Government or National Lottery funding.

Its helicopters are on call 19 hours a day, from 7 am to 2 am, every day of the year.