MORE lives could be saved after a rapid response air ambulance team extended its flying hours.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is to become one of the first rescue teams to fly 12 hours a day.

The extension will run from May 1 to September 3, with crews on call between 9am and 9pm.

At present, the air ambulance only flies ten hour days and is not equipped to fly at night.

Operations manager Mick Lindley said: "This is an exciting development for the air ambulance. Demand for our service soars after 6pm in the summer with people leaving work and taking up their hobby, be it walking, motorcycling or horse riding."

Yorkshire Air Ambulance has flown over 5,000 missions since 2000 and costs £1.3m a year to run. The change will cost the charity, based at Leeds-Bradford airport, an extra £3,000 a month.

To help with fundraising, call 0845 120 6060.