An emergency medical services charity in Devon received a donation boost of £4,000.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) and Devonshire Freemasons jointly donated the money to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT).

The DAAT operates seven days a week including night time operations, from two bases in Exeter and North Devon.

The Trust operates two Critical Care Cars which enable the medical teams to arrive quickly by road and are useful when responding to incidents in built-up areas.

Exmouth Journal: W Bro Tim Golder (Asst PGM), W Bro Anthony Eldred (Prov Charity Steward) and John Shaddick

Last year, DAAT attempted 2,226 rescues; 1,333 by air, 814 by car, and 79 through their Volunteer Responder Scheme.

W Bro Anthony Eldred, the Provincial Charity Steward for Devonshire, said: "At our recent visit to the airbase at Chumleigh, it was a privilege to meet some of the DAA team and see first hand the equipment that our grant helped to fund.

"The importance of the support they offer to our community here in Devon cannot be overstated with so many lives affected and even saved, this was emphasised by the helicopter lifting during our visit to attend yet another serious medical emergency somewhere in our county.”

W Bro Timothy Golder, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire, added: "The point was made very strongly that the Air Ambulance service has evolved so that it is now able to deliver a wide range of A&E interventions direct to patients at the time of critical need."

Matthew Bell, the Director of Public engagement Devon Air Ambulance Trust, said: "We are so grateful to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire and to the Masonic Charitable Foundation, for their recent donation of £4,000 to Devon Air Ambulance.

"This is a life-saving amount of money. Without supporters like the Devonshire Freemasons, we simply would not be able to respond to these incidents and save lives."