THE Essex Air Ambulance landed at Colchester County High School for Girls yesterday to raise awareness of its Flight for Life Lottery, which raises nearly half of the charity's annual income.

THE Essex Air Ambulance landed at Colchester County High School for Girls yesterday to raise awareness of its Flight for Life Lottery, which raises nearly half of the charity's annual income.

The Essex Air Ambulance is able to take doctors and life saving equipment to a patient within the first few vital minutes of an emergency.

It attends an average of three to five emergencies daily and is never more than eight minutes flying time from any of the county's major hospitals.

But it costs more than £105,000 each month to run, and despite its link to the NHS it receives no Government funding, relying instead on people's generosity.

Teresa Fox, who teaches English at the Norman Way school, said: “It was so moving when they landed today as it brought home what they are doing. If I was in a car accident and saw them coming I would feel so relieved. It's fantastic what they do, and it's incredible that it only keeps going through voluntary donations.”

All the pupils were given information for their parents about taking part in the lottery.

The Flight for Life Lottery has more than 20,000 members playing every week and has raised nearly £5 million and paid out nearly £1 million in prize money since it started nearly 10 years ago.

n Anyone who wishes to take part in the lottery can visit the Essex Air Ambulance website or call 01787 221828.