THE region’s air ambulance will drop into a fundraising family fun day this weekend.

Members of the public will get the chance to meet the crew of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) at the event at Darlington Rugby Club on Sunday (July 6).

The aircraft is due to make a visit to the Blackwell Meadows site at about 2.30pm, subject to operational demands.

There will be an assault course, bouncy castle, go-karts, archery, face painting, fun stalls and refreshments, and entry is free.

GNAAS mascot Miles the Bear will greet children.

The event, which runs from noon until 5pm, will also feature competing teams of sportsmen and local businesses battling it out in an It’s a Knockout-style competition. Among those taking part are a team from Darlington Football Club.

Ruth Davey, from GNAAS, said: “There’ll be loads going on so it promises to be a great day for all the family.

“We’d love to see a good crowd down there, cheering on the competitors and raising money for the local air ambulance.”

GNAAS operates three helicopters, 365 days a year, across the North-East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria and needs £4m every year to run the service they provide.

The crews respond to around 1,000 call outs each year and on board the aircraft are specialist trauma doctors and paramedics, who bring accident and emergency expertise to the scene.

Last year’s competition raised more than £7,000 for the charity.