The Wiltshire Air Ambulance lottery has seen a big increase in the number of people playing it.

In the last year more than 6,400 new players joined the lottery, bringing the total number of players to 21,773.

The lottery raises more than £500,000 a year for the air ambulance.

Tickets cost £1 a week, with a top prize of £1,000 and four £25 weekly prizes. The charity uses canvassers to recruit new players, but in spring people will also be able to sign up via its website. At Easter the charity also plans to launch a Superdraw offering a £25,000 monthly prize.

Claire Kelly, head of events and charity services at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We are extremely grateful to the many thousands of Wiltshire people who are already supporting our lottery.

“By joining the lottery, people are helping to secure the long-term future of our life-saving service. As we don’t receive any government or National Lottery funding, we are totally reliant on the generosity and support of local people to keep us flying.”