A CHARITY has pledged its support to fund a helipad at Airedale Hospital.

The County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal has so far backed the provision of 50 helipads at hospitals across the country.

And bosses say there are a further 50-plus projects – including at Airedale – in the pipeline, both new-builds and upgrades, costing £55m.

Major supporters of the appeal include Wills and Legal Services Ltd, which has raised £3m in nearly 10 years through a scheme whereby people having a will drawn up make a donation.

Sally Abbott, for the County Air Ambulance Trust HELP Appeal, says: "We're immensely grateful to Wills and Legal Services and its clients for their remarkable fundraising effort.

"Their ongoing support is having a transformative impact on our ability to save lives by building helipads beside emergency departments. We're undoubtedly helping to achieve a better outcome for air ambulance patients."

Plans to build a helipad at Airedale Hospital were approved in November, 2021.

A spokesperson for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust says: "We are very grateful to HELP for its ongoing support.

"We're currently factoring the helipad into our new hospital plans and will be able to share more details in due course."