THE new Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance mascot has been christened – thanks to 10-year-old Katie Dymott.

Katie, from Broadstone, cleverly came up with the name Dasher – Dorset and Somerset Helicopter Emergency Rescue – after spotting the competition to name the character in the charity’s Beeline magazine.

Former paramedic Dave Hindson came up with the design and Katie’s name was chosen as the best to be submitted.

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Chief Executive Officer, said: “We had so many names suggested, our selection panel had a tough time picking the winner.”

Katie’s dad Tim said: “It was about Christmas time and Dasher was one of the reindeers’ names.

“Katie’s quite academic and she often goes off and does all these things by herself. She worked it all out by herself and she was thrilled that she won.”

Katie, a pupil at Lockyer’s Middle School in Wimborne, and her family were treated to a day out at Henstridge Airfield the airbase on the Dorset/Somerset border to meet the crew and the real life “Dasher”.