MEMBERS of a Teesdale branch of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB) have presented a cheque to the Great North Air Ambulance.

The King Edward VIII lodge of the RAOB, in Barnard Castle, donated £500 raised through extra gifts from lodge members.

RAOB lodge member Peter Dixon said: "We decided on the air ambulance as it does a lot of work here, and one of the members knew someone who it helped following a crash on the A66."

Paula Harrison, fundraising manager for the air ambulance, was delighted with the gift and said it would be used towards training costs.

She said: "It costs £500 just to get the helicopter airborne, and we get called out three-to- five times a day.

"This is fantastic, as we have to generate £1.5m a year without government or Lottery help. We have to rely on the support of the people."