A new trailer has been bought by the Essex Air Ambulance from a fellow life-saving charity.

The St John Ambulance team in the East of England offered the Lynton twin-axle trailer to the air medics after seeing a plea on social media.

Previously used by St John Ambulance for fundraising and recruitment, it was earmarked as suitable for selling on in a recent equipment review.

Now the air ambulance team has bought and re-branded the trailer to help raise awareness and money to keep its helicopters in the skies.

Mick Coley, regional fleet and facilities manager at St John Ambulance, said: “Both St John Ambulance and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) are in the position of receiving no funding from government so fundraising, donations and re-purposing of equipment are essential activities for the

organisations.

“We were delighted to sell the trailer to EHAAT and are sure it will help raise awareness of the excellent work they do in Essex.

“We have worked together in the past on a number of incidents and we look forward to continuing to develop our relationship in the future.”

Carly Duffett, head of fundraising at EHAAT, added: “We are so grateful to St John Ambulance for answering our plea for a trailer. It just goes to show the power of social media.

“We have re-branded the trailer with some eye-catching images and it has already been put to good use.”