SUFFOLK businessman Clive Thomas has been recognised by the East Anglian Air Ambulance for his team's achievement in raising more than £60,000 for the charity over the last six years.

SUFFOLK businessman Clive Thomas has been recognised by the East Anglian Air Ambulance for his team's achievement in raising more than £60,000 for the charity over the last six years.

The figure means that Clive Thomas, founder and managing director of Needham Market-based recruitment specialist Anglia IT Recruitment, and his colleagues rank as the air ambulance charity's top business fundraiser.

The Anglia IT team have raised the money primarily through a series of high profile events, including two regional premieres of James Bond films, the annual Pride of Anglia Quiz night and a Casino night.

They have also run a series of other smaller scale events during the period including some well attended poker evenings.

To recognise Clive's work for the charity, Nichola Wright, Suffolk fundraising co-ordinator for the charity, presented him with a framed print, signed by the crew, to hang in his office.

She said: “The support Clive's team has given us over the last few years is really exceptional and deserving of recognition. Not only have they raised an extraordinary amount of money to help us keep Anglia One flying, but Clive's also given freely of his time and business contacts. The contribution he has made is immeasurable and we hope it will continue!”

Mr Thomas added: “When we founded the company back in 2002, we looked for a 'company charity' and the East Anglian Air Ambulance was a natural fit - and it still is - as it covers exactly the same geographic region as we do and provides a crucial service to the whole population within that area.”

The EAAA currently operates two helicopters - Anglia One, which covers Norfolk and Suffolk, and Anglia Two, which covers Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. It also maintains a back up aircraft.

It costs the charity £3 million a year to run its three helicopters, to provide the ancilliary operations and supply the advanced medical equipment they carry.

The charity receives no NHS, government or National Lottery funding so is entirely dependent on fundraising and contributions from members of the public.