THE Great North Air Ambulance visited Richmond Castle yesterday to mark the launch of its service.

While enjoying the sunshine visitors had the chance to see the helicopter land in the castle grounds.

The helicopter now operates every day from Teesside Airport, carrying out jobs from south Durham, to the Tees Valley and the Yorkshire Dales.

Chief executive Grahame Pickering said it was also a chance to thank the public, who helped raise the £1.2m a year needed to keep the service in the air.

"One aircraft costs us about £60,000 a month and we run two," he said.

"We get no Government funding. It is the people's ambulance and as long as the people continue to fund and support it, it will always be there for them."

The ambulance began operating five days a week, last July.

Richmond MP William Hague, who was on hand to welcome the helicopter to the castle, said it provided a vital service for North Yorkshire.

He said: "Air ambulances are useful over the whole country but for North Yorkshire it is of particular importance.

"We have 6,000 miles of road and a lot of accidents.

"Road ambulance crews work extremely hard but often accidents take place a long way from where they are available to help. Before long, we will never imagine how we did without the air ambulance."