IT’S a month since the Daily Echo launched a mini-campaign to get more locations for fundraising textile banks for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

And haven’t you done well!

Thanks to big-hearted local businesses, 10 more banks have been sited across the county, with pledges of another four to come.

That means more money can be raised from the sale of unwanted clothes and textiles, to help provide the £3,500 needed every day to keep this vital local service in the air.

Tracy Bartram, the charity’s co-ordinator, said: “Daily Echo readers are fantastic!

“The week after the campaign finished we had our busiest week ever for textiles, collecting over nine tonnes of clothing in just seven days. With the extra banks we’ll be able to raise even more to support the service.”

The textile banks are bright yellow and feature the charity’s helicopter logo. There are 137 across the county but that number should rise to 151 quite soon. Banks can be found at many locations including Castlepoint Shopping Centre and South West Vehicle Auctions in Ringwood Road, Parkstone.

From July to October last year alone, the Yellow Helicopter took to the air 297 times, treating 165 patients and carrying 144.

It doesn’t receive a penny in government help and relies on fund-raising for its income.

Daily Echo editor-in-chief Neal Butterworth said: “Our readers always like to support an important local cause and we knew they’d want to support this.

“It great to know that even more money will be raised for this worthwhile charity and it will help with recycling, too.”

  • If you’d like to find out about hosting a textile bank – or about the air ambulance lottery, which costs just £1 a week – contact the Air Ambulance on 01823 669604, email info@dorsetandsomersetairambulance.co.uk or write to Landacre House, Castle Road, Chelston Business Park, Wellington TA21 9JQ.