GREAT Western Air Ambulance Charity has been given a £1 million grant from the LIBOR fund to secure the future of the life-saving service.

The charity says the money will make a huge difference as it is the additional costs to run the EC135 helicopter for a year.

In this year’s Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced the fund would be open to the emergency services.

GWAAC submitted an application, and has been lobbying ever since with the help of MPs.

Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke, who led the campaign, and Chris Skidmore, MP for Kingswood, met the Chancellor to discuss the application. Charlotte Leslie, MP for Bristol North West, also made representations.

It was announced yesterday that after months of lobbying the GWAAC’s bid had been successful.

John Christensen, the charity’s chief executive, said: “I am over the moon. For the first time since I started GWAAC, our future is looking financially secure.

“This is all down to the effort of Jack Lopresti, plus Chris Skimore, Charlotte Leslie, Dr Liam Fox, John Penrose, Stephen Williams, Neil Carmichael and Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo.”

GWAAC is the youngest helicopter rescue charity in England and Wales. It covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire.