THE sight of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance on a life-saving mission has led to an unexpected gift.

The York Lodge of Mark Master Masons has donated £1,000 to the charity.

Mason Roland Flint said: "We all greatly admire the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. We decided to support it when one of our members reported having seen it swoop, like an angel of mercy, on a road accident. Shortly afterwards, it took off, quickly disappearing out of sight as it headed for a distant hospital."

Receiving the cheque, fundraising director John Sutherland said: "It costs around £1m a year to keep the helicopter flying. The fact that we can keep it in the air, is all down to the generosity of the Yorkshire folk it serves so well."